'Really shameful': Multiple GOP reps slam fellow Republican over 'stolen valor'

On the 80th anniversary of D-Day — when U.S. troops stormed the beaches of Normandy during World War II — several Republican members of Congress are highlighting one of their colleagues' wearing of military honors he didn't earn.

According to NOTUS' Matt Fuller, Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) is drawing criticism from his fellow House Republicans over his decision to wear a Combat Infantryman medal from his time in Afghanistan. While Nehls did go to Afghanistan during his military career, he was a civil affairs officer and never saw combat. The medal, which is only for those who served in infantry and special forces units, was revoked in 2023. However, Nehls still wears the medal on his lapel underneath his Congressional pin.

"It matters. As a former commander, it matters what you wear on your uniform," Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Montana) told NOTUS. "And if you didn’t earn it, you shouldn’t wear it."

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A service member wearing honors he or she didn't properly earn is considered deeply offensive to the military community. One unnamed Republican lawmaker told the publication “If you’re wearing something that Nehls wearing the infantry medal amounted to "stolen valor."

“It’s specifically addressed in U.S. Code, that particular badge,” the lawmaker said. They added that someone not in an infantry division wearing an infantry badge makes it “illegal and stolen.”

"It’s really shameful,” another Republican member speaking anonymously told NOTUS. “It speaks to deep insecurities. Combat Infantry Badges are given out for combat. He didn’t earn it.”

Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Michigan), who is a retired major general (denoted with two stars), said he was using "back channels" to confirm whether Nehls' Combat Infantryman badge had been officially revoked by the Department of Defense. He added that he planned to "trust but verify" prior reports about the honor's revocation before taking further action.

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Last month, CBS News investigated Nehls' military service and dug into Pentagon records to confirm the Texas Republican's Army career. The outlet found that not only was Nehls' combat infantryman medal revoked, but that he only earned one Bronze Star medal (awarded for meritorious service and outstanding achievement), despite him claiming two. A post to the congressman's X (formerly Twitter) account in May showed paperwork for two Bronze Star medals in 2004 and 2008. CBS maintained it could only confirm one.

The 2004 Bronze Star CBS confirmed was awarded to Nehls was signed by Major Gen. John Batiste. The award proclaims: "Captain Nehls trained and mentored nine Iraqi staff members and four coalition soldiers assigned to the Kirkuk Business Center, which became known as the best business center in all of Iraq."

"Congressman Nehls doesn't wear medals he wasn't awarded," said Emily Matthews, who is Nehls' press secretary.

While the Combat Infantryman badge was revoked, Nehls was awarded the Combat Action badge, which was created in 2005. Even though Nehls was never in the battlefield, that badge is given to servicemen who are "actively engaging or being engaged by the enemy."

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