Newly released audio raises questions about Talarico’s absence from campaign trail

Audio released on social media Sunday by independent journalists Nick Sortor and Rhein Amacher raises the claim that Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico spent part of his recent absence from the campaign trail at an Ohio mental health facility.

A woman answering a call to the Lindner Center of Hope in Mason, Ohio, reportedly told Amacher that Talarico appeared to have been discharged from the facility earlier that evening. 

The employee was not publicly identified, and the report did not include independent confirmation from the facility.

The report raises questions about the campaign’s explanation that Talarico had been recovering from the flu. 

The Democrat had been absent from in-person campaign events for about 12 days before reappearing Friday at the Austin City Limits music festival.

Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief or staff for policy, reacted to the story and called on Talarico to release his medical records. 

Talarico's campaign called the audio report false, maintaining that the Senate candidate was recovering from the flu in Texas.

Some social media users pointed out that other people have the same first and last name as Talarico.