Internet trolls Bernie Moreno as Trump-backed Senate hopeful's email found linked to adult website profile

COLUMBUS, OHIO: Republican Ohio Senate candidate Bernardo 'Bernie' Moreno has rejected a shocking allegation linking him to an adult website profile as "salacious lies that are intended to be a last-minute smear campaign" just days before the all-important Ohio primary.

Moreno's email address was linked to the creation of a 2008 profile on the Adult Friend Finder website for a user “looking for young guys to have fun with while traveling," the Associated Press reports. 

The email address used, bernie@clevelandporsche.com, was also purportedly listed next to his name on the website of a car dealership he owned. The account was registered under the username 'nardo19672.'

The profile made using that email stated an interest in “Men for 1-on-1 sex,” including a marital status of “prefer not to say.”

The scandalous report was released just days before former President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Ohio to campaign with the 57-year-old GOP Senate hopeful, who is in the middle of a tight three-way contest heading into the primary.

What did Bernie Moreno say regarding these outrageous claims?

Moreno spoke with Politico after a campaign event on Friday, “It's a sick, last-minute attack by desperate people. This is what they do. Look at what they did to Judge Kavanaugh, look at what they did to President Trump.”

Moreno is married to his wife, Bridget, and has four adult children.

The Associated Press (AP) has confirmed that an individual with access to Moreno's email account had created the aforementioned profile. However, the outlet could not verify whether the profile was created by Moreno himself.

In response to the AP's report, Moreno's legal representative, Charles Harder, has stated that a former intern created the account 16 years ago as a prank but abandoned it on the same day.

Moreno’s lawyer has maintained that the Republican Senate contender had no involvement in the creation of the contentious profile.

“We have provided AP a copy of a signed letter from that intern, admitting to this, as well as another signed letter from a former VP of Mr Moreno's company, confirming this intern’s employment at the time the account in question was created,” Harder asserted via a statement to the DailyMail.

He pointed out that the email was listed on the company's website rather than Moreno's personal one.

“According to metadata, the AFF account was never even used—there were no communications or contacts sent to or from any other AFF accounts, and no photos or content were uploaded to it,” Harder added. “The AFF account existed for less than a half-day, 16 years ago,” he said. 

Former intern Dan Ricci expressed his regret in a letter to the aforementioned outlet saying that he was “thoroughly embarrassed by an aborted prank I pulled on my friend, and former boss, Bernie Moreno, nearly two decades ago.”

"Never in my wildest dreams did I think this stupid prank would be used to harm my dear friend years later," he continued.

Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, is scheduled to visit the Buckeye State, ahead of the March 19 primary.

Earlier this year, Trump endorsed Moreno, a businessman who owned car dealerships.

Moreno has been promoting the highly sought-after Trump endorsement, which could give him a huge leg-up in the three-way Senate primary race.

In an interview with Politico, Moreno disclosed that he had not discussed the matter with Trump, and the former President's campaign confirmed in a statement that he was not reconsidering his support for Moreno.

Steven Cheung, a Trump spokesperson said it was ”shameful” and “embarrassing” the report ran.

Cheung claimed, “The left-wing media is obsessed with destroying anyone who supports the America First movement and this ridiculous slime job is simply more proof that Bernie Moreno is a threat to the entire swamp.”

According to a Republican strategist in Ohio, despite the AP report, Moreno is still expected to win the Republican Senate nomination but only “narrowly.”

The upcoming Trump rally in the state is anticipated to be a significant factor in this regard, as Ohio state Senator Matt Dolan, who enjoys the endorsement of the governor, along with Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, is giving Moreno a tough fight in the Republican Senate primary.

The Senate race is expected to be highly competitive in November, and the outcome could play a crucial role in helping the Republicans regain the Senate majority.

Both Moreno and Dolan have already invested millions of their personal funds in the primary race. As per ad tracking, there are already $142 million in ad reservations for the fall.

Internet trolls Bernie Moreno after being linked to adult website

People online have ridiculed the Trump-backed Ohio Senate candidate after his email was traced to a 2008 Adult Friend Finder account.

One person commented, "Lol. An intern? Try harder"

Another user said, "No smoke without fire."

Another person wrote, "lol. And another one bites the dust."

One user claimed, "An indignant denial is often followed by a tearful confession."

Another person quipped, "Caught 'Red handed';) Party of 'Family values.'"

Finally, this person remarked, "The intern did it. Wink wink"

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.