David Pepper, chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, on Friday questioned the "courage" of Republican Rep. Brad Wenstrup (Ohio), an Army doctor.
Wenstrup is well known for rushing to the aid of Rep. Steve Scalise (R., La.) when he was shot during a congressional baseball practice last summer, and for assisting crash victims last week after the Amtrak train he was on crashed into a truck, leaving one dead and several wounded.
Two tragedies. Two times @JeffFlake & @RepBradWenstrup have rushed to the aid of the injured. These guys are the real deal pic.twitter.com/pSzwHRCErU
— Jason Samuels (@Jason_Samuels) January 31, 2018
Wenstrup is a colonel in the Army Reserves and was awarded the Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge for his service in Iraq.
In his tweet, Pepper criticized Wenstrup for voting with the majority of Republicans last week to release a memo that lays out concerns "with the legitimacy and legality of certain [Justice Department] and FBI interactions with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court."
".@RepBradWenstrup ? Have you no courage, Brad? The people of your district expect courage and patriotism from their Congressman. They expect country over party," Pepper tweeted.
.@RepBradWenstrup ? Have you no courage, Brad? The people of your district expect courage and patriotism from their Congressman. They expect country over party. https://t.co/SnQlS1uZzu
— David Pepper (@DavidPepper) February 2, 2018
The backlash against Pepper was swift.
This is the same Brad Wenstrup who jumped into the fray to help Congressman Scalise and yesterday was photographed helping victims of that train crash, right?
— Beth Vanderkooi (@bethvanderkooi) February 3, 2018
Really, questioning Brad Wenstrup's courage and patriotism? https://t.co/2YSjHKnQbU
— Greg Brooks (@GregBrooksOH) February 2, 2018
Does Col. Wenstrup have courage? Yes, sir. Have you no honor?https://t.co/kS5TBMXZss @RepBradWenstrup https://t.co/ZCJUIory49
— Dave Yost (@Yost4Ohio) February 3, 2018
@DavidPepper that's rich. When did you serve your country like @RepBradWenstrup did? That takes courage.
— Steven Tharp (@TharpforTrump) February 2, 2018
@RepBradWenstrup helped injured on a crashed train, helped save Scalise’s life, served in Iraq, and earned a Bronze star. @DavidPepper you are a fool. It’s time you pick with someone else because @RepBradWenstrup is way out of your league.
— Tom Dains (@TomDains) February 3, 2018
Pepper you are a disgrace. Brad has demonstrated his courage multiple times and saving like with his actions. You hide behind a computer screen and probably think you’re are courageous.
— Phil Morrical 🇺🇸🏅 (@philmorrical) February 3, 2018
Brad Wenstrup was serving in Iraq while Pepper was racking up $10,000 worth of parking tickets because parking with the commoners was too rough. https://t.co/NSCzKQ9Nkh
— Jeff Capell (@JeffCapell) February 2, 2018