FACT CHECK: Second Local Fact-Check Finds Wittman’s NICU Attack Ad on Shannon Taylor FALSE While Rating Her Ad TRUE

For the second time this week, fact-checkers rate Wittman’s NICU ad as FALSE and report that Taylor secured a sentence 6X stronger than the recommended guidelines

HENRICO, Va. — Today, WAVY’s Truth Tracker rated Rep. Rob Wittman’s attack ad on Shannon Taylor’s handling of the Henrico NICU child abuse case as FALSE. This is the second time this week that Wittman’s ad was rated FALSE, following an earlier 12 On Your Side fact-check.

Wittman’s ad falsely claims that Taylor’s handling of the case put more babies at risk by allowing the abusing nurse, Erin Strotman, to return to work. Henrico Doctors’ Hospital — not Shannon Taylor — made the decision to let Strotman return to work in late 2024, months after she had first been placed on leave following unexplained fractures found on four premature babies in the summer of 2023. The criminal case against Strotman did not begin until her arrest in January 2025. WAVY wrote: “Truth Tracker finds that claim in the Wittman ad FALSE.”

WAVY’s Truth Tracker also examined a Taylor campaign ad featuring the father of one of the abused babies. The ad states that Taylor secured a sentence six times harsher than state sentencing guidelines and helped pass a law closing a reporting loophole for hospitals. WAVY rated both statements in the Taylor ad as TRUE.

Facts of the Case: 

The abuse: Former Henrico Doctors’ Hospital NICU nurse Erin Strotman abused nine newborns and caused broken bones and other trauma over the course of three years. [ABC News4, 6/6/26]

The hospital delayed reporting: Hospital administrators waited 10 days to report suspected abuse to Child Protective Services, even after a radiologist told the hospital’s Chief Medical Officer he believed it was abuse. A special grand jury investigation found the hospital’s seven week delay in reporting initial cases of suspected abuse led to more patient harm. [WTVR, 8/7/26] WTVR, 6/16/26] [Richmond Times-Dispatch, 3/13/26]

The hospital blocked a thorough investigation: A special grand jury’s 74-page report found that the hospital and its CEO had prioritized itself rather than conduct a thorough investigation, calling the hospital’s “loyalty” to Strotman a great “miscalculation.” [WRIC, 6/15/26]

“Cloak of secrecy”: The special grand jury report also found that there was a “cloak of secrecy” around the hospital’s internal investigation in an effort to shield it from liability. [WRIC, 6/6/25]

HDH conducted an internal investigation instead of alerting CPS right away: “HDH chose to conduct their own 2023 investigation of Strotman when they suspected she was first abusing NICU babies, instead of immediately alerting CPS.” [WRIC, 6/6/25]

Shannon got the conviction: Strotman was convicted of nine felony child abuse charges. [ABC News4, 6/6/26]

Shannon secured a sentence that was six times tougher: Sentencing guidelines called for one day to six months. Shannon secured three years, six times the top of the guidelines. [WTVR, 1/16/26]; [WRIC, 1/19/26]

Shannon changed the law: Shannon worked with Del. Delores McQuinn to strengthen Virginia law with HB 1414. It passed 92-6 in the House and unanimously in the Senate, and it made failing to report suspected abuse within 24 hours go from a minor fine to a misdemeanor punishable by up to 12 months in jail. [WRIC, 5/15/26]; [Richmond Times-Dispatch, 3/13/26]

Recent polling finds the race between Shannon Taylor and Wittman is a true toss up, with major momentum building behind Shannon. A Washington Post-Schar School poll showed Shannon Taylor leading Wittman 50% to 46%. The Cook Political Report recently shifted its rating from Lean Republican to Toss Up. Sabato’s Crystal Ball also rates the race a Toss Up.

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ABOUT SHANNON:

Shannon Taylor is a battle-tested prosecutor with 25 years of experience and a 90% conviction rate in homicide cases, taking on the toughest threats to Virginia families and delivering justice. A native of Charlottesville and graduate of the University of Virginia and the University of Richmond Law School, she began her career as a prosecutor in Richmond before serving as a Special Assistant in the U.S. Attorney’s office. In 2011, she flipped the Henrico Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office from Republican to Democrat, becoming the first woman elected to the role. She has since been re-elected three times, proving she knows how to win tough races.

As Commonwealth’s Attorney, Taylor has pioneered programs to support victims of human trafficking, created a task force to tackle the opioid epidemic, and led prosecutors statewide in pledging not to criminalize women or doctors for abortion care. She has worked alongside law enforcement to keep families safe, fought fraud that harms working people, and partnered with gun safety advocates to take illegal guns off the streets.

Shannon Taylor has built her career on protecting Virginians and delivering justice for families regardless of their politics. 

For more on Shannon Taylor’s campaign, visit ShannonTaylorVA.com.

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