Ohio GOP Senate candidate Bernie Moreno harshly criticized a report published Thursday — ahead of former President Donald Trump's visit to join Moreno's final campaign swing — that allegedly linked him to an adult website.
Politico reported Friday that after a meet-and-greet, Moreno called The Associated Press report — which linked Moreno's email to a 2008 account "looking for young guys to have fun" on Adult Friend Finder — "salacious lies that are intended to be a last-minute smear campaign."
"It's a sick, last-minute attack by desperate people," Moreno, 57, said. "This is what they do. Look at what they did to [Supreme Court Justice Brett] Kavanaugh; look at what they did to President Trump."
He also told Politico he hadn't discussed the story with Trump, who's scheduled to hold a rally in Ohio on Saturday.
Trump has endorsed the Cleveland businessman over two rivals in the three-way GOP primary, which is set for Tuesday. Moreno faces Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and Cleveland-area state Sen. Matt Dolan. Republican Gov. Mike DeWine endorsed Dolan on Monday.
The Republican nominee will face third-term Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown in November.
In a statement, Trump's campaign made clear he's not reconsidering his support for Moreno, Politico reported.
"The left-wing media is obsessed with destroying anyone who supports the America First movement, and this ridiculous slime job is simply more proof that Bernie Moreno is a threat to the entire swamp," Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said.
According to Politico, Dan Ricci, a former intern for Moreno, said he created the 2008 account as a "stupid prank."
"We've been at this for six weeks. So obviously, we now know what happened," Moreno said Friday, Politico reported. "It's 16 years ago. Somebody pulled a prank … why is that a story? It's a story because President Trump endorsed me."
Charles Harder, an attorney for Moreno, told Politico multiple people had access to the email account and that Moreno "had nothing to do with the" Adult Friend Finder account.
Trump and Republican Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance have enlisted a number of high-profile conservatives to rally behind Moreno, including Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, Politico reported.
An East Carolina University poll released this week showed Dolan holding a 33%-31% lead over Moreno going into the primary.
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