Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) ripped into a witness Wednesday during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing, debunking his claim to military disability status over an injury he suffered decades ago, according to the Washington Post.
A congressional investigation found that Braulio Castillo, President and CEO of Strong Castle, Inc., filed a claim for service-disabled veteran status in 2012 entitling him to lucrative business contracts. Castillo cited an ankle injury he sustained while at the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School in 1984.
Duckworth, who lost both her legs while serving in the Iraq War, was angered by Castillo’s claim.
“I’m sorry that twisting your ankle in high school has now come back to hurt you in such a painful way, if also opportune for you to gain this status for your business as you were trying to compete for contracts,” Duckworth said.
“Shame on you, Mr. Castillo,” she added. “Shame on you. You may not have broken any laws … but you certainly broke the trust of this great nation. You broke the trust of veterans.”
Watch Duckworth questioning Castillo below:
