J.R. Majewski was an Air Force combat veteran who went to Afghanistan after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and had to go more than 40 hours without running water.
The military documents obtained by The AP show a different story.
They say Majewski did not deploy to Afghanistan, but did complete a six-month stint helping to load planes at a U.S. ally that is a safe distance from the fighting.
One aspect of Majewski's biography that is questionable is his account of his military service. He has been defined by exaggerations, conspiracy theories, talk of violent action against the U.S. government and occasional financial duress.
Majewski has a chance of defeating Kaptur in the newly redrawn district because of his loyalty to Trump.
Majewski is one of a group of GOP candidates who have unvarnished life stories and hard-right politics that could affect the outcome of the election. There is a new breed of politicians who reject facts as they try to emulate Trump.
J.R. Majewski is an Air Force veteran who supports Trump.
When people trade on their military service to get elected to office, what they are doing is misleading the people they want to vote for them. When veterans claim to have done what their brothers and sisters in arms did to build up their reputation, it's a disservice.
In a lengthy statement issued to the AP, Majewski's campaign did not address questions about his deployment to Afghanistan. When the AP asked for more information, the spokeswoman declined.
Majewski is proud to have served his country. My accomplishments and record are being attacked, while career politician Marcy Kaptur has a forty-year record of failure for my Toledo community, which is why I am running for Congress.
Majewski is an unlikely candidate to be the Republican nominee taking on Kaptur, who has represented the Toledo area since 1983. The establishment vote was split by the fact that two state legislators were on the ballot. Majewski had previously worked in the nuclear power industry and was involved in politics as a pro-Trump hip hop performer. The insurrection took place at the U.S. Capitol.
During his campaign, Majewski offered his Air Force service as a valuablecredential. There is a slogan on campaign merchandise. He advertised himself as a combat veteran. In a campaign video released this year, Majewski pledges to restore an America that is independent and strong like the one he fought for.
According to the biography released by the House Republican campaign committee, Majewski was one of the first to arrive in Afghanistan after 9/11. A campaign ad posted online Tuesday by Majewski supporters flashed the words "Afghanistan War Veteran" across the screen along with a picture of a younger Majewski. There is a biography on his website.
When asked about the details of his service, Majewski has been evasive.
He served one tour of duty in Afghanistan, but he doesn't like talking about it. It was difficult. The military was difficult.
The records show that Majewski was based at a base in Japan for most of his active duty service. He helped load and unload planes while serving as a passenger operations specialist in the Middle East.
His campaign said Majewski would land at other air bases to transfer military passengers. The campaign didn't say if he was in Afghanistan.
Majewski says he is a combat veteran, but experts disagree.
Soldiers storming a beachhead or finding refuge during a firefight can be evoked by the term. The laws and regulations of the U.S. government make it clear that facing live fire has nothing to do with earning the title.
During the Persian Gulf War, countries were designated as combat support areas despite the low risk of American service members ever facing hostilities. Veterans received a favorable tax status due to that. One of the countries that received the designation under Bush's order is now home to the largest US air base in the Middle East.
It's rankles some when those seeking office offer their status as a combat veteran as acredential to voters without explaining that they didn't come under fire.
The retired Air Force colonel who now runs Protect Our Defenders doesn't consider himself a combat veteran because he was there. Those who were in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan would be offended by that.
According to Majewski's campaign, he calls himself a combat veteran because of the area he deployed to in the Middle East.
Many of the medals given to those who served in Afghanistan are missing from Majewski.
He did not have an Afghanistan campaign medal because he did not serve 30 consecutive days or 60 consecutive days in the country.
He did not receive a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary medal, which was issued to service members before the creation of the Afghanistan campaign medal, if they deployed overseas in "direct service to the War on Terror."
Matthew Borie, an Air Force veteran who worked in intelligence and reviewed Majewski's records, said it's odd that Majewski lacks many of the medals you would expect to see for someone who deployed to Afghanistan.
When Majewski left active duty after four years, there was a question about his final rank.
After four years, most leave the service and are usually promoted. Majewski left at a higher rank than where he started. He was not allowed to sign up with the Air Force again.
According to Majewski's campaign, he was demoted after getting into a "brawl" in his dorm. Service members who do not rise to the level of a court-martial can be punished with non judicial punishments.
A political career that took shape in an online world of conspiracy theories is one of the many legacies of Majewski's exaggerated resume.
While playing down his involvement in the Capitol riot, Majewski has denied that he is a follower of the QAnon conspiracy theory.
There is a baseless and apocalyptic belief based on online postings. It claims that Trump is fighting entrenched enemies in the government and is also involved in satanism.
I don't like QAnon. Majewski said in his statement to the AP that he didn't subscribe to Q's conspiracy theories.
In the past Majewski wore a qanon shirt during a TV interview, and he has described a friend of his as a "good friend."
Majewsk stated that he believed in everything that was put out from Q and that the false posts were military-level intelligence. He posted a photo of the "Trump 2020" mural he painted on his lawn that was changed to "Q's" on Parler, a right wing social media platform.
Majewski was involved in the insurrection. The "Stop the Steal" rally that preceded the attack on the Capitol was helped by Majewski, who raised about $25,000. The two appeared in social media postings near the Capitol after they traveled to the event together.
Majewski denied entering the building. He was upset that he didn't go in to the building after the attack.
Majewski said on the stream that he really wanted to go in.
Majewski has not been charged with a crime. He said that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump and that the insurrection felt like a setup by the police.
Majewski said in his statement that he regretted being at the Capitol, but that he did not break the law.
He has described himself as an executive in the nuclear power industry in a campaign ad.
A review and a survey of his former employers don't support the claim.
He worked for a Florida based energy conglomerate that handles spent nuclear fuel. He is not listed among the executives and members of the corporate leadership teams on the website.
A spokesman for Majewski said that he was a former Holtec employee, but wouldn't give any details on his position or role.
Majewski's campaign didn't address his claim of being an executive but said he participated in weekly conference calls.
After leaving the military, Majewski worked as a senior consultant for First Energy, an Ohio based power company. The company quickly recognized Majewski'sintellect and leadership capabilities, according to his biography.
Records from his bankruptcies raise questions about his position. He was an outage manager who made over $50,000 a year. Majewski and his wife gave up their home, two cars and a Jet Ski in order to settle the case, according to court records.
Some Republicans think that this won't matter to the voters.
Tom Davis is a former congressman who led the House Republican campaign arm during George W. Bush's presidency. The elections are no longer about the person. Candidates don't matter as much as they used to.
That's right.
LaPorta was reporting from North Carolina. Randy Herschaft is from New York.
That's right.
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