Dan Crenshaw Responds To Critics Who Criticized Him For Losing Votes For Being At SEAL’s Funeral
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Rep. Dan Crenshaw hit back at far-right activists who criticized him for losing some votes this week by saying “being with my brothers was just more important” after attending the funeral of an “active duty SEAL” in San Diego.
The same day that Crenshaw was in California, Cmdr. Robert Ramirez III, 47, a war hero whose awards include medals for his service in Iraq and Afghanistan, was buried at Miramar National Cemetery.
It is unclear if Crenshaw was at Ramirez’s funeral. DailyMail.com has reached out to Crenshaw’s office for comment. Last month, the San Diego Medical Examiner’s Office told MailOnline that Ramirez committed suicide.
Crenshaw was responding to activist Laura Loomer, who called the Texas congressman “RINO,” a Republican in name only, on Twitter for missing a vote on whether to establish a Federal Government Select Subcommittee on Weapons. The bill passed without Crenshaw’s vote.
Crenshaw responded to Loomer: ‘Yes, Laura, it was on purpose. I flew to San Diego to attend the funeral of a friend and active duty SEAL. Please delete your toxic and obsessive trolling, if you don’t mind.
Rep. Dan Crenshaw was criticized for losing votes in Congress this week
In a separate message to Trump acolyte Alex Bruesewitz, Crenshaw tweeted: “I lost a few votes this week due to my friend and fellow SEAL’s funeral in San Diego. Being with my brothers was just more important. Grateful that my obsessive Twitter trolls noticed my brief absence.
The Katy, Texas, Republican also missed a vote on a rules package.
The only funeral at the San Diego Federal Military Cemetery on Tuesday, January 10, the day of the lost votes, was that of Cmdr. Roberto Ramirez III.
Ramírez, known as Bobby to friends and family, was buried at the Miramar National Cemetery. His hearse was escorted to the cemetery by the Patriot Guard Riders, a group of motorcyclists who attend funerals for fallen military personnel.
Crenshaw, 37, is an Army veteran and veterans’ advocate who lost his right eye and sustained damage to his left eye in 2012 when a pipe bomb went off while he was deployed in Afghanistan.
He completed SEAL qualification training in 2008 and served for ten years with five tours of duty rising to the rank of lieutenant commander. During his first deployment to Fallujah in Iraq, Crenshaw became a member of SEAL Team 3.
The three-term congressman returned to DC the day after Ramirez’s funeral to vote on the so-called Born Alive Act.
The new GOP-led House of Representatives passed a resolution Wednesday condemning attacks on anti-abortion facilities, including crisis pregnancy centers, and a separate bill that would impose new penalties if a doctor refused to care for a baby born alive after an attempted abortion, known as the Born Alive Act.
Commander Robert Ramírez III, 47, was found dead in December after taking his own life. Friends and colleagues paid tribute to a ‘great hero’ and ‘incredible human’
Crenshaw was responding to activist Laura Loomer, who called the Texas congressman “RINO” on Twitter for missing a vote on whether to establish a Federal Government Select Subcommittee on Weapons.
Crenshaw returned to DC on Wednesday to vote on new abortion legislation in the House that is unlikely to pass the Senate.
Commander Ramirez had only taken command of the elite SEAL Team 1 in November, having joined the unit in June.
He joined the Army in 1996 and was commissioned in 2008.
He has three combat action ribbons, including for service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
His other decorations include five Bronze Star Medals, two with the Combat ‘V’ device denoting valor and acts of heroism.
Miguel Riggs, a childhood friend and former basketball teammate, described Ramírez as a “very bright man.”
Ramirez, pictured with his family, joined the military in 1996 and was commissioned in 2008. He has three combat action tapes, including for service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
His military colleagues remembered him as a ‘great hero’ and ‘brother and friend’.
Capt. David Abernathy, Commanding Officer of Naval Special Warfare Group 1, which manages all San Diego-based SEAL teams, said: ‘Bobby was an outstanding leader, a devoted husband and father, and a good friend to all of us.
“This is a devastating loss for our community and everyone who knew him. We will continue to support Bobby’s family, friends and teammates during this extremely difficult time.”
The San Diego sheriff opened an investigation into the death, but ruled out foul play.
He was married to his wife Anne and they had four children together. The Navy SEAL Foundation has established a fundraising page for his family
A friend, Jennifer James, said: ‘I’m devastated. Anne Ramirez and Robert Ramirez III have been my friends since high school and have represented our country through multiple deployments and sacrifices to serve the US mission.
“We lost an incredible human on Monday and Anne and Bobby’s story must be told.”
Obi Ugochukwu, a Navy medic, said: “This is just a devastating loss.” The pain of this loss is very deep.
‘Many of us were at Bobby’s change of command ceremony and it was a very joyous occasion. I cannot understand this and am just praying for Anne, the children and the rest of the family.
“We lost a BIG HERO and this will hurt for a long time.”