Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw faces multiple ethics complaints after threatening to “f***ing kill” Tucker Carlson in a hot mic incident that has ignited a firestorm among conservatives.
At a Glance
- Former Navy SEAL and Rep. Dan Crenshaw was caught on a hot mic saying he would “f***ing kill” Tucker Carlson if they ever met
- James Copenhaver, a former undercover narcotics detective, and the American Accountability Foundation have filed ethics complaints against Crenshaw
- Crenshaw dismissed the statement as hyperbolic, non-literal, and not a genuine threat
- The controversy highlights an ongoing feud between Carlson and Crenshaw over foreign policy positions on Ukraine and Israel
Hot Mic Comments Trigger Ethics Complaints
Representative Dan Crenshaw finds himself embroiled in controversy after his comments about conservative commentator Tucker Carlson were caught on a hot microphone. The Texas congressman was recorded on February 24 telling a British journalist after an interview with GB News, “We’ve talked a lot on Twitter. If I ever meet him, I’ll f***ing kill him. I’m not joking. He’s the worst person.”
This incident prompted immediate backlash, including formal ethics complaints from multiple sources. James Copenhaver, a former undercover narcotics detective, filed a complaint arguing that such statements are unbecoming of a member of Congress. The American Accountability Foundation (AAF) similarly submitted a formal complaint requesting an investigation into Crenshaw’s remarks, suggesting that his military background as a former Navy SEAL makes such threats particularly concerning.
Crenshaw’s Defense and Ongoing Feud
Following widespread circulation of the video online before its deletion, Crenshaw attempted to downplay the gravity of his words. The Congressman claimed the remark was simply hyperbolic and not intended to be taken literally. He maintained that while he has no desire to be in the same room as Carlson, having declined an interview invitation from the commentator, his statement was merely a non-literal “turn of phrase.”
The exchange is part of a larger, ongoing feud between Crenshaw and Carlson that spans multiple policy disagreements. Their conflict centers primarily around U.S. support for Ukraine and Israel’s actions against Hamas – positions that Crenshaw supports and Carlson has criticized. The Congressman has previously called Carlson a “cowardly, know-nothing elitist,” while Carlson responded to the recent threat by tweeting, “Why don’t you come sit for an interview and we’ll see how you do? I’ll send you my address.”
Broader Ethical Concerns
Beyond the immediate controversy over language, Copenhaver’s complaint highlights what he describes as a pattern of unethical behavior by Crenshaw. These allegations include failing to properly disclose stock trades and campaign finance violations. The complaint also mentions Crenshaw’s reputation among some conservatives as a “warmonger, globalist, and anti-Trumper,” reflecting the ideological divides within the Republican party.
The AAF has warned that failing to sanction Crenshaw could set a dangerous precedent regarding threats against journalists. This controversy has also drawn reactions from other political figures, including Representatives Nancy Mace and Marjorie Taylor Greene, as well as tech entrepreneur Elon Musk.
Critics of Crenshaw point to a pattern of inflammatory rhetoric, including a January 2023 incident where he labeled lawmakers opposing Kevin McCarthy’s House speaker bid as “terrorists” and “narcissists” – comments that Carlson criticized at the time. Meanwhile, supporters argue that his comments were clearly not intended as actual threats and represent the kind of hyperbolic language common in heated political disagreements.
