Friday, October 23rd

What happened

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine urged Republican Vivek Ramaswamy to take down a campaign ad featuring Democrat Amy Acton’s estranged mother, Donna Arthur. DeWine called the ad deeply troubling, but said he would not withdraw his endorsement of Ramaswamy for governor. The ad calls Acton a liar and disputes her childhood account, after Ramaswamy’s campaign said it would spend $4 million promoting it. Acton says she was sexually abused by her stepfather, removed from her mother’s custody and estranged from her since 1978. Ramaswamy defended the ad as legitimate, while President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance backed him. The race remains unsettled shortly before Election Day.

What happened

Rep. Ilhan Omar said she plans to leave her Washington, D.C., home after federal agents searched it under a court-authorized warrant. The Justice Department said in a court filing that the warrant had not been fully executed and referred to her as “Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, a/k/a Ilhan Abdullahi Omar,” without explaining the wording. Authorities are examining whether false statements were made in immigration paperwork before Omar became a U.S. citizen in 2000; she has not been charged. Omar denied wrongdoing and called the probe political intimidation. She said agents arrived around 6 a.m., stayed for hours, took 17 items, and asked her to waive congressional protections. Prosecutors must answer unsealing requests by Oct. 27.

What happened

Virginia state Sen. L. Louise Lucas surrendered to federal authorities after a grand jury indicted her and six others, including relatives. Lucas faces five counts in a case involving alleged marijuana trafficking, money laundering and public corruption. Prosecutors allege Lucas led an operation that distributed more than 100 kilograms of marijuana, laundered proceeds and used her political influence to protect it. Lucas is a longtime senator and senior chamber leader. Virginia had not yet allowed recreational marijuana stores, with regulated sales set to begin in July 2027. Lucas said the government was targeting an 82-year-old great-grandmother; her lawyer said she denies the charges. Lucas was expected in federal court next.