Virginia GOP candidate Derrick Anderson breaks silence after claims he borrowed friend's family for campaign footage

Republican Congressional campaigner Derrick Anderson fired backmost astatine media claims that helium 'borrowed' a friend's household for run footage. 

Anderson, an Army veteran, is attempting to flip a bluish territory successful Virginia reddish successful 2024 aft its existent occupant, Abigail Spanberger, announced she would vacate to tally for politician successful 2025.

Anderson precocious released a run advertisement that featured footage of himself with a pistillate and 3 children - what appeared to beryllium a household photograph - successful an effort to play to women voters and household values.

However, the ma and 3 girls are successful nary mode related to him with it aboriginal emerging that they are the woman and 3 children of an aged person of Anderson, according to the New York Times. 

A spokesperson for Anderson told DailyMail.com Tuesday that the footage was not meant to beryllium for the campaign, conscionable b-roll and claimed his Democrat opponent, Yevgeny 'Eugene' Vindman, has utilized akin footage. 

'The New York Times intentionally misled voters by falsely reporting connected Derrick – who is happily engaged and precise arrogant of/vocal astir his household – appearing successful a video with pistillate supporters and their kids. It's some hilarious and sad,' they said. 

'Derrick's hostile and each different campaigner successful America are successful akin pictures and video with supporters of each kinds, and Yevgeny Vindman features akin shots successful his ain run b-roll -- which shows however absurd this farce is.' 

'Here's an existent information for voters successful Virginia's 7th District: Yevgeny Vindman has misled Virginia voters by lying astir his subject record, and helium should merchandise his DD214.' 

He reiterated that the footage was not meant to beryllium utilized successful an advertisement and sent DailyMail.com images from Vindman's run posing similarly.  

Anderson adjacent posted a video of himself and his fiancé retired connected the run way conscionable weeks earlier. 

He presently lives unsocial with his canine aft getting engaged successful September. 

Liberals connected societal media accused Anderson of lying astir his household presumption connected societal media to triumph votes.

A Virginia Democrat wrote: 'If you deliberation renting a unit to play location volition marque you relatable, you've officially entered the realm of the bizarre, Derrick. It's clip to get real: you can't Photoshop authenticity!' 

'Derrick Anderson is backmost connected the run trail. He astir apt shouldn't proceed to usage My Best Friend's Girl by The Cars arsenic his run song,' joked another.

Someone other besides wondered if George Santos was successful complaint of Anderson's campaign. 

When asked astir the effect to the footage, a spokesperson for Anderson said that the attacks were silly and unfair. 

'The false, politically-motivated reporting connected Derrick – who is happily engaged and precise arrogant of/vocal astir his household – appearing successful a mean run video with pistillate supporters and their kids is some hilarious and sad,' the spokesperson told HuffPo. 

The spokesperson - who described the footage arsenic Anderson posing 'with pistillate supporters and their kids' - besides told the New York Times that this is modular operating procedure. 

'Derrick's hostile and each different campaigner successful America are successful akin pictures and video with supporters of each kinds,' they said. 

That hostile is Democrat Yevgeny 'Eugene' Vindman, a Ukraine autochthonal and key subordinate alongside his member Alexander in the archetypal impeachment proceedings of Donald Trump. 

The DCCC said successful a connection that Anderson is utilizing those women arsenic a mode to support himself from attacks connected abortion.

'Derrick Anderson is truthful hopeless to disguise his anti-abortion views and look similar a household antheral that he's posing for fake household pictures,' Spokesperson Lauryn Fanguen said.

'He's intelligibly not supra misleading Virginians and decidedly can't beryllium trusted to correspond them successful Congress.' 

Anderson, who maintains done his spokesperson helium did not lie, precocious penned an op-ed titled: 'Want to little the somesthesia successful politics? Stop the lies.'

'I'm calling connected voters to cull the lies and assistance america unite this country. And erstwhile you spot my hostile and his allies lie, telephone them connected it. You'll get the information from me; request the information from my opponent,' helium wrote successful The Daily Progress. 

'Demand consecutive answers and zero deception. Don't fto my hostile speech retired of some sides of his mouth. Demand truth, request character. You merit that overmuch arsenic voters.'

An August canvass showed Anderson and Vindman tied astatine 41%-41%, according to WJLA. 

Cook Political Report rates the races arsenic a 'Lean Democrat' but inactive called it competitory for the Republican Anderson. 

Republicans taking backmost the spot would apt beryllium cardinal to increasing their slim bulk successful the House of Representatives.