Recording Fuels James Talarico Hospital Claims

Nick Sortor and Rhein Amacher released audio of a call to the Lindner Center of Hope in Mason, Ohio, in which an unidentified woman said it looked as though a James Talarico had been discharged that evening. Talarico, the Democratic nominee for a Texas U.S. Senate seat, had missed in-person campaign events for nearly two weeks after saying September 30 that he had the flu. He returned October 9 at Austin City Limits, as his close race against Republican Ken Paxton entered its final month. Talarico and his campaign said he was home in Austin recovering from the flu. The center would not confirm or deny any patient. The allegation remained unverified.