In what has been dubbed "Canoe-Gate," the Guardian reported this past week that U.S. Secret Service personnel told local government officials to increase water levels in an Ohio river so Vice President J.D. Vance and his family could go kayaking.

However, both the vice president's office and the Secret Service have been quick to dismiss that allegation as a hoax. 

Report cites claims from unnamed sources

As Breitbart noted, Guardian contributors Stephanie Kirchgaessner and David Smith based their story on claims made by unnamed sources.

"One source with knowledge of the matter who communicated with the Guardian anonymously alleged that the outflow request for the Caesar Creek Lake was not just to support the vice-president’s Secret Service detail, but also to create ‘ideal kayaking conditions," they wrote.

That contention was met with derision in a statement issued by Will Martin, who serves as Vance's director of communications.

"The vice president took a canoe trip down the street from his house in Ohio with his wife and three young kids on his 41st birthday, and Democrats are trying to turn it into a story about elitism," Martin said in a statement provided to Breitbart.

Martin accuses "far-left media" of using "fake news"

"Leftists like Tommy Vietor and Richard Painter have spent decades rubbing shoulders in DC—they have no clue how normal families operate. The idea of a family canoeing together is completely foreign to them," he insisted.

"The Guardian is fake news that refuses to correct outright falsehoods, and their buddies at supposedly reputable outlets are happy to parrot their lies," Martin declared.

"The far-left media is desperate to smear Vice President Vance and they’ve hit a new low by attacking him for enjoying his birthday with his wife and kids," the communications director added.

Breitbart observed that Martin was not alone in denying the story, as Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi did so as well.

Secret Service spokesman: Vance's office not involved in water decision

"The vice president's office was not involved in the Secret Service’s decision to raise water levels during a recent trip to Ohio," Guglielmi explained in an email to Breitbart.

"It was operationally necessary to adjust the water levels to accommodate the motorized watercraft used by the Secret Service, local law enforcement, and emergency responders," he stated.

"These decisions were made solely by agents during our standard advance planning process and did not involve the Office of the Vice President," Guglielmi declared.

"As with every protective mission, we work meticulously with our partners to develop and implement security plans that ensure the safety of our protectees," he maintained.