Massie Ally Draws Fire for Claiming Challenger Abuses VA Disability Benefits

An ally of Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., faces criticism for accusing Ed Gallrein, Massie's challenger, of abusing disability benefits as a veteran.

"Ed Gallrein has received government benefits for claiming to be 100% physically disabled, while also claiming to do demanding full-time farm work on his family’s operation," Andrew Cooperrider, a radio and podcast host, wrote in a Facebook post. "This raises serious questions about consistency, transparency and accountability."

Veterans advocates criticized the post as a mischaracterization of the Veterans Affairs disability rating system. The comments come amid a sensitive Republican primary pitting a Trump-endorsed candidate against one of the president's sharpest critics.

"I think it’s disgraceful that any type of campaign would try to use a VA disability rating against somebody," said Mark Lucas, founder and president of Veteran Action, an advocacy group. "Just because a veteran has a disability, it does not mean that they can’t work."

Gallrein has run as a pro-Trump candidate aiming to oust Massie, whom he calls the biggest problem in the GOP. He points to Massie's vote against Trump's Big Beautiful Bill, his Epstein Files Transparency Act and his criticisms of U.S. involvement in Iran and Venezuela as out of step with the party.

Trump endorsed Gallrein earlier this year.

Tim Murtaugh, an advisor to Gallrein's campaign, called Cooperrider’s post an "offensive attack." "This is a ridiculous and offensive attack on a veteran, a potentially illegal invasion of privacy and it proves Massie and his allies truly have no shame and no honor," Murtaugh said.

Before entering politics, Gallrein served in SEAL Team Six with deployments to Panama, the Persian Gulf and other zones. He then returned to his family’s farm, according to his online biography.

The Department of Veterans Affairs awarded Gallrein a 100% disability rating, though the injuries behind it remain unclear.

Darin Selnick, a former VA advisor to the White House Domestic Policy Council and senior advisor for Veteran Action, said the rating assesses service-related injuries for federal aid. Veterans have little control over the final rating.

"When you file for the claim, the VA has an independent medical examiner that looks at your medical records. They do additional medical examinations to confirm what's in the medical records. That report goes to the ratings examiner," Selnick said. "VA then says, okay, based on this rating, you then get X amount of compensation per month for the service-connected injuries that happened to you."

Cooperrider did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.