Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) “tried to two-step his way out of a political cow-pie, claiming a Staten Island firefighter who survived 9/11 conspired with his local congressman to stain the former Navy Seal officer’s reputation,” the New York Daily News reports.

“Crenshaw found himself boots-deep in controversy after retired FDNY firefighter Rob Serra claimed the Houston Republican snubbed him in the hallway on Capitol Hill, where survivors of the terror attacks lobbied lawmakers on a bill to renew a federal fund to help first responders and their families.”

Said Crenshaw: “He’s conspiring with Max Rose. There’s a more malicious underlying motive here I think. This accusation is a nefarious attempt to undermine me because I spoke out against Omar. It’s highly dishonest.”