Attack ad featuring candidate's mother roils Ohio governor race
The gist
An ad of Donna Arthur calling daughter Amy Acton a liar circulated two weeks before Ohio's governor election.
Acton's campaign and brother condemned it; the ad's producer and payer are undisclosed.
How it unfolded
- 1978Acton's stepfather Cledith Arthur was charged with raping Acton, then between 10 and 12 years old; he entered a not guilty plea.
- 2019Acton told The Vindicator she was sexually abused between the ages of 9 and 12, and that her stepfather was charged after her biological father reported it to police.
- 2020Donna Arthur first spoke out about Amy in an interview with the anti-abortion group Operation Rescue, disputing Acton's version of events.