GOP House candidate J.R. Majewski lied about serving in a combat zone, AP reports

• GOP House candidate J.R. Majewski lied about aspects of his military service, according to the Associated Press.
• Majewski has repeatedly said he served in Afghanistan, but military records indicate he actually served in Qatar.

A candidate for House of Representatives from Ohio, J.R. Majewski, repeatedly misrepresented aspects of his military service, according to the Associated Press.

During his campaign for office in Ohio's 9th Congressional District, Majewski stated on several occasions that he served in Afghanistan, where the US fought a nearly 20-year war. After obtaining records from Majewski's Air Force service, however, the AP found that he never actually deployed to that war-zone. Instead, Majewski actually loaded planes at a base in Qatar.

Majewski's claims of serving in Afghanistan can be found online in at least one podcast and on his personal Twitter.

In a video interview with "One American Podcast" in 2021, Majewski was asked if he served in Afghanistan.

"Yes I did," Majewski firmly replied before noting that he doesn't like talking about his military experience as "it was a tough time in life. You know, the military wasn't easy."

Additionally, Majewski claimed he was a veteran of the Afghanistan war on Twitter, saying he'd gladly "go back to Afghanistan" to rescue Americans who were left behind when US forces left the country a year ago.

The AP also found that Majewski lacks several medals that are typically given to people who have served in Afghanistan, such as an Afghanistan Campaign Medal and a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

Majewski has had a turbulent transition to the general election phase of his campaign after scoring an upset victory in his four-way Republican primary.

In August, Insider found that Majewski was violating federal law by neglecting to publicly report his personal finances. It was not until after Insider inquired about them to his campaign that he filed the financial disclosure.

The disclosure revealed Majewski and his wife have up to $750,000 in personal debt and own up to $200,000 in assets, not including their home.

Majewski faces incumbent Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur in a race that the nonpartisan Cook Political Report has declared a "toss-up." Former President Donald Trump has endorsed Majewski, stating that Majewski "bravely served in the U.S. Air Force" and would be a "fantastic congressman."