A lawmaker who has faced insults from Donald Trump swatted down a disgraced Republican operative over the weekend, noting that GOP commentator had previously been convicted of soliciting a minor.
U.S. Representative Don Bacon of (R-NE), who Trump has called a "rebel Republican" for his choices in standing up to the president, posted on Christmas a photo of himself in Baghdad, at Saddam Hussein's Palace, when he was fighting for the U.S.
"This Christmas, I thank our troops at home and keep those spending the holidays away from home in my heart," Bacon wrote on Christmas. "Their service and sacrifice make it possible for all of us to celebrate this season in peace and freedom."
That led to an intervention by Scott Ritter, a former UN Weapons Inspector and Republican who has been convicted in connection with interactions he had with someone he thought was 15 years old.
Ritter said, "2007. Four years after the real warriors captured it."
"Sitting on your fat a--," he added. "In your fake Air Force cammies. Smoking a stolen cigar. Looking like the idiot you are."
Bacon shot back, writing, "I was part of the invasion in OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom) and OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom) too. But I have never been convicted of soliciting minors like you."
Ritter then replied, "Convicted in a kangaroo court on trumped up charges that I pled innocent to. You? You’re guilty of being one of the most ignorant men ever to don a blue uniform. I’m good with my record. You’re a disgrace."
But Bacon wasn't done yet. He posted a photo of Ritter being arrested an added, "Scott, was this you? Soliciting minors is a terrible crime."
Bacon also asked Grok, Elon Musk's X ai chatbot, about the conviction. Grok replied, "Ritter was charged twice for offenses related to soliciting minors: once in 2001 (charges dismissed after probation), and again in 2009 (convicted in 2011 on multiple counts, served prison time)."
