JD Vance was interrupted by a heckler as he campaigned in Kansas for Sen. Roger Marshall (R).
But his attempt to dismiss the heckler didn’t exactly go well.
As the vice president spoke, the heckler yelled, referring to Marshall: “He sues his patients!”
The New York Times reported last week that Marshall, who was an OB-GYN before taking office, sued more than 700 patients over outstanding medical bills, with 81 ultimately getting arrested for missing court dates over the debt.
Asked about it during a debate on Saturday, Marshall said he used “common business practices,” according to The Kansas City Star.
Vance, however, accused the protester of lying.
Mark Schiefelbein-Pool/Getty Images
“I see we have a guy who is protesting,” Vance said.
The crowd booed and chanted “USA” as security dragged out the protester.
“You know, the last time I gave a speech and we had a guy who was interrupting, he had the common courtesy to bring a Mexican flag so we knew where he stood,” Vance said.
The protester’s shouts had nothing to with Mexico, but rather Marshall’s history of suing his patients over medical debt.
Vance tried to address that as well.
“Now this guy, this guy, I’m telling you, ladies and gentlemen, here’s what happened, is he decided to come in and lie about my very dear friend Doc Marshall, because the reality is that Doc Marshall has stood up for everyday Americans every single day he’s been in the United States Senate,” Vance said, despite the fact that both Marshall and his office confirmed that he sued patients.
Kansas is a deep-red state that hasn’t sent a Democrat to the Senate in nearly a century. However, polls show Marshall is facing a tightening race against Democratic challenger and megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton.
The Cook Political Report has adjusted its rating for the seat from “solid R” to “likely R.”
Check out the heckler moment below: