Right-wing activist Laura Loomer disputed Democratic accounts of an incident in Canfield, Ohio, where 38-year-old Patrick Havas allegedly lunged toward gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton. Police say Havas was arrested on assault and disorderly conduct charges and was found with two handguns and brass knuckles; Acton was uninjured. Loomer accused Democrats of lying to distract from claims about Acton’s drinking and compared the candidate to Jussie Smollett. The episode comes as Acton, a former Ohio health director, runs a tight race against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy.
Laura Loomer Calls Democrats 'Lying' After Armed Man Lunges at Amy Acton, Calls Her 'Amy Smollett'
Amy Acton (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File) Laura Loomer, inset (AP Photo/Andrew Kravchenko)
Right-wing activist Laura Loomer criticized Democrats and contested accounts of a frightening incident in which a man allegedly lunged toward Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton while she spoke at a local fair in Canfield.
What Happened
The episode occurred Sunday afternoon in Canfield, Mahoning County, roughly an hour east of Akron. Authorities say 38-year-old Patrick Havas pushed through a crowd listening to Acton, allegedly shoving two people to the ground as he approached the former Ohio health director and pediatrician. Witnesses reported Havas held up a cellphone and appeared to record the incident.
Local law enforcement told WLWT5 that Havas was found with two handguns and brass knuckles. He was arrested on charges of assault and disorderly conduct; authorities say Acton was not injured.
Loomer’s Response
On X (formerly Twitter), Loomer accused Democrats of fabricating details of the event to distract from what she described as Acton’s alleged drinking. She invoked the Jussie Smollett case — in which an actor was later accused of staging an attack — writing that Acton should be renamed "Amy Smollett."
"Why are Democrats lying and saying that @amyactonoh was assaulted by a man with a gun to pretend like he pulled a gun on her? This is a blatant lie," Loomer wrote, also asserting that the suspect had been released without bail and that Democrats were trying to shift attention away from claims Acton was intoxicated at the event.
Loomer also shared a past police report she said involved Acton’s daughter calling authorities about a domestic incident and alleging that her mother had been drinking. Loomer further criticized Acton’s record as Ohio’s health director during the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing those policies harmed residents and deserved accountability.
Context
Amy Acton, 60, served as Ohio’s health director during the coronavirus pandemic and is the Democratic nominee for governor. She is running a close race against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy as incumbent Gov. Mike DeWine is term-limited. Campaign officials and police say Acton was not hurt in the Canfield incident.
Reporting on the case referenced WLWT5 for law-enforcement comments. The suspect faces state charges; further legal developments or official statements may follow as the investigation continues.
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