Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) shut down a New York Times writer after he accused Crenshaw of not supporting the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund, and mocked Crenshaw for not being a patriot.
The attack from the New York Times writer came following comedian Jon Stewarts comments in front of Congress, over their failure “to ensure that a victims’ compensation fund set up after the 9/11 attacks won’t run out of money — and for skipping a hearing devoted to that very crisis.”
In a now-deleted tweet, NYT writer Wajahat Ali accused Crenshaw of not sponsoring the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund, when in actuality he did co-sponsor the bill.
“Anytime a Republican says they are ‘patriots’ ask them if they voted to fund the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund,” Ali wrote on Twitter. “You know who’s for it? Ilhan Omar. You know who hasn’t sponsored it? Dan Crenshaw. @DanCrenshawTX, I hope you do the right thing. If not, why aren’t you?”
Rep. Crenshaw fired back, telling the writer to check his facts.
“Hey ‘journalist,’ maybe you should check your facts,” Crenshaw replied. “I am a co-sponsor. Nice try though.”
Crenshaw ended his tweet by showing his “patriotism” that Wajahat Ali questioned. He attached an X-ray scan of an injury that led him to lose his right eye after a bomb blew up in his face while serving in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan in 2012.
Not only did Crenshaw serve as a Navy Seal, but he was awarded two Bronze Star Medals, the Purple Heart, and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with valor.
The response
At first glance, anyone checking Ali’s Twitter timeline would have no idea that Ali had attacked the former Navy Seal, as he deleted the accusatory tweet from his feed.
Although Ali admitted he was wrong about Crenshaw not sponsoring the bill, he made sure not to give a full apology, instead deciding to focus on Crenshaw to reverse his critical comments about Ilhan Omar.
“Thanks for letting me know,” Ali wrote back to Crenshaw. “I’m glad you did and I have no problem correcting and updating the record with facts. Now try it with your comments about Ilhan Omar. You’ll feel better. Sincerely, a fellow patriot.”
Ali also tweeted that he deleted his first tweet about Crenshaw because he has “no problem admitting” that he was wrong.