Attack Ad Featuring Amy Acton's Estranged Mother Roils Ohio Governor Race

An attack ad circulating online has brought Amy Acton's estranged mother into the Ohio governor's race. The video features her mother calling the Democratic candidate a liar, according to the Associated Press.

The Hill identifies Acton's mother as Donna Arthur and describes the clip as a viral video targeting Acton, who is running against GOP nominee Vivek Ramaswamy.

The attack concerns Acton's account of childhood abuse. The Independent reports that her mother accuses her of lying about her childhood as a survivor of sexual abuse.

On October 20, the Associated Press reported that Acton had pushed back forcefully against the unattributed advertisement circulating online. NBC News also reported her condemnation of the video.

Her campaign directed its criticism at Ramaswamy. According to ABCNews.com, the campaign alleged that her opponent's campaign was using her estranged mother in the political ad. That is an allegation about responsibility, not an established account of who made the video.

Acton's brother also responded publicly. CBS Top Stories reported that he called the ad a "despicable low" and said their stepfather sexually abused Acton when she was a child.

The family rupture predates the campaign. According to NYT Politics, Acton and her mother have not spoken since her mother backed her husband after his arrest on rape charges. The supplied coverage does not give a date for that arrest.

The video has drawn condemnation from Acton and her family, but its origins remain unresolved. Forbes reports that it is unclear who is responsible for the advertisement, while the Associated Press describes it as unattributed.

Some coverage labels it a Republican or GOP ad. That description does not establish that Ramaswamy's campaign produced, commissioned or paid for it. ABCNews.com presents the claimed connection to his campaign as an allegation by Acton's campaign.

The central unanswered question is who made and distributed the advertisement, and whether there is evidence connecting it to Ramaswamy's campaign. The supplied reporting establishes the campaign's accusation, but not that connection, according to ABCNews.com and Forbes.