MS NOW’s Alicia Menendez stepped in to correct a guest who called President Donald Trump “a convicted sex offender” during a segment on the Ohio governor’s race.
The discussion began with Democratic Senate candidate Sherrod Brown criticizing Vivek Ramaswamy’s ad featuring Amy Acton’s estranged mother, who lost custody of her following her refusal to protect her from sexual assault at the hands of her stepfather. Brown said he hoped Republican Sen. Jon Husted would urge Ramaswamy to pull it, but that Husted instead saw Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, Trump and JD Vance defend it.
Guest Richard Stengel said the ad “has broken through in a way obviously that Ramaswamy didn’t intend.” He argued Trump “gets a pass” for conduct that sinks other politicians.
“He’s a convicted sex offender,” Stengel said. He also claimed Trump is suffering from “frontal lobe dementia,” offering no evidence.
Menendez interjected soon after.
“Just to clarify, because you use the term sex offender to describe the president,” she said. “He was found liable for sexual assault.”
The panel then turned to the politics. One speaker said voters want toughness but not “abject cruelty,” and that Republicans who excuse Trump’s style still see a line at attacking someone over childhood rape. Another said Trump keeps “dangling money in front of voters” in Ohio while his policies “trickle up” to his family and allies.
- YouTube www.youtube.com
Report typos and corrections to corrections@rawstory.com.
For customer support contact support@rawstory.com.
