In an embarrassing moment for an unpopular RINO, top House Republicans imposed a three-month international travel ban on Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) following an August “alcohol-related episode” during a congressional delegation to Mexico, where he reportedly toasted a Mexican official’s crude joke that made female colleagues uncomfortable, as was first reported by Punchbowl News.
For context, the decision stemmed from tensions with Intelligence Chair Rick Crawford, who sought Crenshaw’s removal from the committee but settled for a ban after a heated meeting with Speaker Mike Johnson. However, Crenshaw dismissed the report as “clickbait,” claiming a planned October trip was canceled due to the government shutdown, not the ban.
Breaking the story in a viral post to social media, a prominent conservative stated, “🚨 JUST IN: Congressional Republicans have BANNED Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) from international travel for 3 months after an “alcohol-related episode during a [delegation trip] in Mexico” – Punchbowl”
Providing his side of the story, the former SEAL said, “Big problem with this clickbait story: I was booked to go on an overseas CODEL, which was fully approved by House Ethics… The CODEL was canceled right before departure due to the government shutdown, but not due to any so-called ‘travel ban.’”
In another post on the same issue, he claimed, “This ‘alcohol related incident’ is literally me doing a toast with Mexican Generals… Sorry, everyone, I truly wish I had a better story to tell you about my time in Mexico. But the truth is, in fact, very boring. I’m shocked that Punchbowl would try to sell you subscriptions with clickbait headlines. Super shocked.”
Defending his comments, when some conservatives remained unconvincing, Crenshaw claimed, “This is a fact: people can pull receipts. Once again, we are dealing with the usual media playbook of publishing sensational stories based on anonymous sources and incorrect facts.”
However, Jake Sherman, the Punchbowl News Co-Founder, stuck by the original story. “Big problem with this clickbait tweet: Crenshaw was barred from international taxpayer travel for 90 days by the chair of his committee,” Sherman declared.
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Despite the denials, conservatives were upset. “Congressional Republicans just slapped Dan Crenshaw with a 3-month ban from international travel because of an ‘alcohol-related episode’ on a delegation trip in Mexico. That’s where we are now. While America is fighting real battles this guy is out there embarrassing the country on taxpayer-funded travel. Imagine that,” one popular post read. Agreeing, another comment read, “We pay taxes to fund @DanCrenshawTX’s ‘drinking episodes’ in Mexico. I want a FULL REFUND!”
Responding to the RINO directly, another impassioned response said, “Says the drunk guy who was just banned from traveling internationally for three months after an alcohol-related episode during a foreign congressional delegation. In other words, your words mean NOTHING.”
However, some of the replies were gentler. “A crude joke? This may be the first thing Dan Crenshaw has ever done that I support….” a commentator joked. Agreeing, on user reacted, “Congress is super g*y for censuring him for toasting a crude joke. I’d like to hear it. I have a very dark sense of humor, so I’d probably laugh, too.”