Republican Accused of Stolen Valor Fires Back — Slams ‘Big Army’ For Attacking ‘Mr. MAGA Guy’
AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana
A House Republican who has come under heavy criticism from some of his GOP colleagues — recently accusing him of stolen valor — fired back on Tuesday night.
In an interview with the new non-profit outlet NOTUS, Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) defended his wearing of a Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) despite the fact it was revoked in 2023 — a CBS News investigation revealed — because it was mistakenly awarded. But Nehls claims he earned the medal, and whined that “Big Army” targeted him because he’s a prominent supporter of former President Donald Trump. Nehls’s CIB was revoked because it was awarded after he served as a Civil Affairs officer in Afghanistan in 2008 — the badge is solely for engaging in combat.
“The ‘Big Army’ says, there’s a discrepancy,” Nehls said. “What the hell is that discrepancy? … How many CIBs have been revoked from soldiers since enduring Operation Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom. That’s going to be a good, good question, isn’t it? So how many CIBs had been revoked from soldiers, or is it just Troy Nehls, Mr. Maga guy?”
NOTUS previously spoke to several House Republicans, all veterans, who offered tough words for Nehls.
“It matters. As a former commander, it matters what you wear on your uniform,” Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) told NOTUS.
“And if you didn’t earn it, you shouldn’t wear it,” added the former Navy SEAL and Trump administration official.
“That’s ridiculous. That’s stolen valor,” Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX) told NOTUS, explaining that the badge is for those who “engaged with the enemy.”
Nehls’s military record has come under scrutiny in recent months after a CBS investigation called into question how many medals he had actually been awarded versus his claims. Nehls hit back at the CBS report that said he was awarded only one Bronze Star, not two, by posting a photo of his two Bronze Stars. The Pentagon later said it would investigate why Nehls’s service record only showed the one medal, despite Nehls having documentation for two.
Nehls did, however, serve in the Infantry as an enlisted soldier and officer before 2003 and has been deployed with the Army to Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Nehls is currently facing a GOP-led House Ethics Committee investigation into alleged campaign finance violations. “The independent office that reviews allegations against House members found probable cause that Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas converted campaign funds to personal use,” reported the AP in May.
