MUST READ: Convicted Sexual Predator Guest Stars in New Vivek Ramaswamy Ad

MUST READ: Convicted Sexual Predator Guest Stars in New Vivek Ramaswamy Ad

October 14, 2026

Columbus, Ohio - Bombshell new reporting from The Bulwark revealed that Vivek Ramaswamy's latest campaign ad features a man who was convicted of gross sexual imposition of a girl under the age of 13.

This disturbing discovery is the latest in a pattern of child abusers and sexual predators with close ties to the Ramaswamy campaign. Ramaswamy proudly touted endorsements from two state lawmakers accused of sexual misconduct and then scrambled to scrub his campaign website after the fact. He touted his endorsement from Rep. Rodney Creech for months after he was accused of climbing in bed in just his underwear with a minor female relative, and Rep. Gary Click, who reminisced about talking to young girls about sex. Click's endorsement was added back to Ramaswamy's website within hours of removal.

Additionally, Ramaswamy has drawn backlash for refusing to call for the release of the Epstein files after promising to do so during his failed presidential campaign. He also has yet to explain why his super PAC accepted $100,000 from Epstein co-conspirator Glenn Dubin, then failed to return the money despite pledging to do so.

Read More: Ramaswamy Campaign Ad Accidentally Featured a Sex Offender

• PROPERTY TAXES ARE A HOT-BUTTON issue in Ohio, where Republican Vivek Ramaswamy is trying to run as a change candidate for governor in a state long run by Republicans. And in his latest campaign ad, he tried to press the button hard. The spot featured a woman from Amherst (a Cleveland suburb) named Patricia "Patty" Edwards, who is fretting about losing the family farm.

• But while the topic may resonate with voters, the featured couple has created complications for Ramaswamy's camp. That's because Vernon Edwards-Patty's husband, who appears a few times in b-roll alongside her in the ad-is a registered sex offender.

• According to court records, Edwards entered into a plea deal in October 2006, in which he pleaded guilty to two counts of "gross sexual imposition"-that is, according to Ohio statute, non-consensual sexual contact-with a minor. Though there were allegations that he committed similar acts against several nieces, he was ultimately charged in a case involving one of them, a girl under the age of 13, because the statute of limitations had expired in the other instances. He was sentenced to eight years in prison.

• Vernon Edwards isn't the main focus of the Ramaswamy campaign ad. But he does appear several times in it, with footage drawn from a prior interaction he and his wife had with Ramaswamy at the Lorain County Fair in September this year. That interaction, posted in September by Ramaswamy to his X account, took place while he was glad-handing voters. Vernon Edwards greeted Ramaswamy with a handshake, and the candidate complimented his patriotic shirt.

• After offering the comment, the campaign also quietly took down the social video featuring Vernon Edwards, as did at least one Republican Ohio state representative who had shared the video as well-suggesting a coordinated effort to wipe the record.

• The inclusion of Vernon Edwards in the original social video and the television ad raises questions about the aspiring governor's campaign-specifically, whether it is conducting due diligence. Ramaswamy is running for chief executive of the Buckeye State-and asking Ohioans to trust his judgment enough to make him governor-on the strength of his personal narrative, which pictures him as a competent business leader.

• Campaigns typically vet the individuals they put forward in ads to ensure both that their stories are true and that there are no red flags in their biographies. Among the records that could have been discovered were court documents showing a Vernon Edwards from the same Amherst address as Patty listed in the Lorain County sex offender registry. In addition, a Google search would have shown Edwards appearing to wear the exact same patriotic shirt in the sex offender registry as the one Ramaswamy complimented him for wearing when they met at the fair.

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