The campaign of Texas Senate candidate James Talarico fired back after audio was released online claiming Talarico had checked out of a mental health facility.

Talarico's campaign had said he was absent from the campaign trial due to the flu, which the audio release called into question. 
 
"This is a lie designed to promote a pathetic conspiracy theory. Last week James Talarico was home in Austin, Texas recovering from the flu," said a campaign spokesperson. 

The audio was posted on X by independent reporter Nick Sortor.