Trump-backed Senate candidate in Ohio slams 'salacious' and 'sick lies' after being linked to 'prank' adult website profile ahead of MAGA rally with former president

Republican Ohio Senate candidate Bernardo 'Bernie' Moreno is blasting a bombshell report linking him to an adult website profile as 'salacious lies that are intended to be a last-minute smear campaign' just days ahead of the competitive Ohio primary.

The Associated Press report found Moreno's email was associated with the creation of a 2008 profile on a website Adult Friend Finder for a user 'looking for young guys to have fun with while traveling.'

The email that was used, [email protected], was also reportedly listed next to his name on the website of a car dealership he owned. The account was connected with username 'nardo19672.'

The profile created under that email indicated interest in 'Men for 1-on-1 sex,' and selected 'prefer not to say' on marital status.

The report came out just days before former President Trump is set to travel to Ohio to campaign with Moreno, 57, who is in the midst of a tough three-way race. 

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

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

Ohio Republican Senate candidate Bernie Moreno's email was linked to a 2008 adult website profile according to an AP report. Moreno blasted the report as a 'sick' attack

Former President Trump endorsed Bernie Moreno in the Republican Ohio Senate primary

Moreno's lawyer said the 2008 AFF account was created by an intern as a prank using a publicly available email address and Moreno had nothing to do with it

The AP confirmed someone with access to Moreno's email account created the profile, but it could not confirm the profile was created by Moreno himself.

In response to the AP report, Moreno's lawyer, Charles Harder, said a former intern 16 years ago created the account as a prank and abandoned in the same day. He insisted Moreno had nothing to do with it. 

'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 said in a statement to DailyMail.com.

He noted the email was listed on the company website, not 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,' he continued. 'The AFF account existed for less than a half-day, 16 years ago.'

In a letter provided to DailyMail.com the former intern Dan Ricci said he was 'thoroughly embarrassed by an aborted prank I pulled on my friend, and former boss, Bernie Moreno, nearly two decades ago.' 

He went on 'never in my wildest dreams did I think this stupid prank would be used to harm my dear friend years later.'

Former President Trump is set to visit the state on Saturday ahead of the March 19 primary. He endorsed Moreno earlier this year.

Moreno, a businessman who owned car dealerships, has touted the coveted Trump endorsement which could help him across the finish line in the three way race.

Moreno told Politico he had not discussed the story with Trump, and the former president's campaign said in a statement Trump was not reconsidering support for Moreno.

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

A Republican strategist in the state said he still expects Moreno to win though 'narrowly' despite the AP report, and Trump coming to Ohio for a rally will be an important factor. 

Moreno (right) with Frank LaRose (center) and Matt Dolan (left) at in a forum on Feb. 19

Moreno is in a tight race with state Sen. Matt Dolan, who is backed by the governor, and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose for the Republican Senate nomination to take on Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown in November.

The Senate race in the red-leaning state is expected to be one the most competitive in November and a GOP win there could play a key role in helping Republicans retake the Senate majority. 

Moreno and Dolan have already put millions of their own money into the primary race. There are already $142 million in ad reservations for the fall, according to ad tracking.