Ohio hospital denies Talarico was a patient
Link to tweet from the Lindner Center HOPE
After a bizarre weekend of social media-fueled speculation over the circumstances of Rep. James Talarico's recent absence from the campaign trail in Texas, a mental health facility in Ohio has issued a statement refuting viral claims that Talarico had been undergoing treatment there this week. The claims originated from two right-wing influencers on Twitter, Nick Sortor and Rhein Amacher, who posted audio of a likely-staged phone call purportedly with an employee at the facility who confirmed to them that Talarico was there. Amacher apparently made multiple calls to the facility impersonating a member of Talarico's family trying to get information before the viral call in question. The audio was quickly picked up and spread this morning by the entire right-wing social media sphere.
It is unclear at this time if there will be any legal ramifications for the acts, either on behalf of the Talarico campaign or the Ohio hospital.