A political advertisement aired in Ohio has drawn sharp criticism from the brother of a family killed in a highway crash, who stated that his grief is not "raw material for a campaign."
Jesse Mallen, brother of Lynnea Soposki, her husband Luke, and their one-year-old son Logan, expressed his distress after seeing a photograph of his deceased family used in an ad sponsored by the National Republican Senatorial Committee and authorized by the campaign of Republican Senator Jon Husted. The ad, titled 'Dangerous for Ohio,' runs against Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown.
The advertisement features the Soposki family alongside footage of the truck driver accused in the fatal crash. The narrator in the ad states, "Sherrod Brown opened our borders to dangerous illegals - the consequences were deadly," before displaying images of the crash victims and the accused driver.
Mallen stated that neither he nor his family were consulted about the use of the photograph and that they would have refused permission had they been asked. He contacted the Husted campaign via email and certified mail, requesting that they cease using the image. "What we all want is to be able to grieve in peace and privacy," Mallen said. "For our family to be used in such a classless way by a politician, especially without being consulted."
The crash occurred on April 11, when a semi-truck collided with the Soposki family's pickup truck on a highway north of Columbus, resulting in a nine-vehicle pileup. Lynnea Soposki, 36, her husband Luke Soposki, 37, and their son Logan, 1, all died at the scene. The man accused of causing the crash, 50-year-old Modou Ngom, has pleaded not guilty to charges including aggravated vehicular homicide. His trial is scheduled for September. The Soposki estate has also filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Ngom and his trucking company.
The ad has become entangled in broader political discussions surrounding immigration. The Ohio Department of Public Safety indicated that Ngom entered the U.S. in the 1990s and later used multiple identities to obtain identification. The Department of Homeland Security stated that Ngom became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2015. Ngom has not been charged with an immigration-related crime, and his attorney has argued that public statements about his immigration history could prejudice his right to a fair trial.
Mallen emphasized that his objection is not partisan, noting he has supported Democrats in the past. He believes his sister would not have wanted her image used for any political cause. After a week without a response from the Husted campaign, the family decided to go public. Mallen began sharing his concerns on social media platforms, where the message gained traction. The commercial reportedly ran for at least 16 days, with an estimated $1 million spent on the campaign.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee defended the ad, stating that it holds Brown accountable for policies that they claim put Ohioans at risk. A spokesperson for Brown's campaign pointed to an analysis that found no evidence linking Brown's voting record to the crash.
While the ad has reportedly been replaced, footage of it remains accessible online and has garnered millions of views. The Soposki family has received messages from individuals who have encountered the commercial, with Luke's father, Joseph Soposki, expressing dismay at the lack of compassion shown by politicians.