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Republican representatives accused GOP lawmaker Troy Nehls of stolen valor for continuing to wear a Combat Infantryman Badge pin, more than a year after the Pentagon confirmed that the honor was given in error.
"If you're wearing something that's specifically been addressed as something you can't wear, that is stolen valor," a Republican lawmaker, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told NOTUS.
"It's specifically addressed in the U.S. Code, that particular badge," another lawmaker said, "[It's] illegal and stolen."
Nehls enlisted in the United States Army Reserve in 1988 and served in Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, before being honorably discharged. The Texas Congressman says that he was awarded two Bronze Stars and the Combat Infantryman Badge. A Pentagon investigation, however, determined that one of the Bronze Stars and the Infantryman Badge were given in error.
The badge is only awarded to people who served in combat - Nehls, as a former civil officer, would not be eligible.
"That's ridiculous. That's stolen valor," fellow Texas representative and veteran Wesley Hunt told NOTUS.
Eight Republicans, who served in the military, criticized their colleague's decision, while another four said they were trying to independently verify the stolen valor accusations.
"If that is true, he shouldn't be wearing it," one of the Republicans, independently seeking verification, told NOTUS. "Doesn't matter, Democrat or Republican, you shouldn't wear something you didn't earn."
In the past, Nehls has defended his service record by sharing pictures of his revoked Bronze Star on social media. He also explicitly said that the Department of Defense was "wrong" for saying he did not have two awards.
"It's really shameful," a Republican told NOTUS. "It speaks to deep insecurities. Combat Infantry Badges are given out for combat. He didn't earn it."
