A rumor suggesting that Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico was secretly spending his time at an Ohio behavioral health center has been debunked. Questions remain about why his campaign didn’t quickly release evidence to quell the speculation.
The New York Times obtained security camera images showing Talarico at his home in Austin between October 1 and 8. The images, time-stamped but not published for security reasons, validate Talarico’s account of being home with the flu, opposed to receiving care elsewhere as had been rumored.
Images offer the clearest independent evidence yet supporting Talarico’s account that he was home recovering from the flu.
The delay in providing evidence raised criticism. GOP strategist Mark Bednar commented on the importance of transparency, especially in the lead-up to elections. He emphasized that quick evidence of illness should have been presented to avoid misinterpretations.
Chuck Ross, an investigative reporter, noted on social media that releasing the footage earlier could have prevented the rumors from spreading. Talarico’s team affirmed during his absence that he was recovering from the flu, with Talarico appearing ill at a virtual event on September 30.
Speculation grew when the campaign reposted older rally footage without clear identification of its age. The campaign highlighted it routinely shares past content for engagement. Matt Gorman of Targeted Victory stressed the need for constant communication in tight races.
After the New York Times published its findings, Fox News Digital reached out to Talarico’s campaign for further comments but the campaign maintained its initial position.
JT Ennis, Talarico’s campaign spokesperson, reiterated that the rumor was untrue and Talarico is eager to resume campaigning. Ennis directed criticism at the Republican opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, urging him to participate in a debate.
Additional Context: Talarico had earlier challenged Paxton to answer voters’ queries in a debate, pointing out Paxton’s prolonged avoidance of public engagement.
Reporter Alec Schemmel, originally from Charlotte now residing in the D.C. area, covered the developments for Fox News Digital.