Rep. Julia Brownley (D., Calif.) sent a taxpayer-funded mailer to constituents that featured a woman in a German air force uniform, the Daily Caller reports.
The woman’s uniform was apparently supposed to portray the U.S. Navy.
Democratic lawmaker Julia Brownley sent a political mailer to her constituents in late July featuring a woman wearing fake military attire and a German Luftwaffe insignia — apparently unaware that the costume was not an official uniform worn by U.S. personnel. […]
A look at all of the Bundeswehr’s official uniforms offers no similar outfit in any branch of the Germany military, lending credence to [Republican opponent Jeff] Gorell’s speculation that the picture is "a purchased stock photo of a model in a costume contrived from various emblems to look like an official [U.S.] naval uniform." [...]
Brownley serves on the House Committee for Veteran Affairs and is ranking member on the House’s Subcommittee on Health, which oversees the VA. Her district includes Naval Base Ventura County, a large military installation near the southern California town of Oxnard that supports 19,000 naval personnel.
The congresswoman reportedly sent out the mailer under congressional "franking" privileges, which allow sitting lawmakers to mass mail certain types of flyers and other information to their constituents without paying postage.
