Fact Check: Democratic Senate Candidate James Talarico Not in Mental Facility, Says AP
AP Fact Check debunks false claims that Texas Senate candidate James Talarico was in a mental facility. He says he had the flu.
POLICY WIRE — Austin, Texas — A recent wave of social media posts falsely claimed that Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico was receiving treatment at a mental health facility. The Associated Press has confirmed these claims are not true.
Talarico, who is running against Republican Ken Paxton in a highly competitive race, was seen at public events in the days following the rumors. His campaign and medical professionals have stated that he was recovering from the flu, not a mental health crisis. The facility named in the rumors denied any connection to Talarico.
The false claims gained traction after Talarico was absent from public view for nine days. However, his team has consistently attributed his absence to illness. Talarico has type 1 diabetes, which puts him at higher risk for flu complications, but he has repeatedly emphasized that he is now feeling better.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
