U.S. Representative Dan Crenshaw (R-TX-2) endorsed former Trump administration State Department Spokesman Morgan Ortagus for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District seat.

Crenshaw’s endorsement this week came when he retweeted Ortagus’ announcement video, saying “Proud to stand with you Morgan. See you in Congress.”

Crenshaw came under fire in December after an appearance at a Texas Liberty Alliance PAC function because of his comments about the House Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative Republican congressmen.

In his remarks, Crenshaw called the House Freedom Caucus “grifters” and “performance artists.”

“They’re the ones you think are more conservative because they know how to say slogans real well,” Crenshaw said. “They know how to recite the lines that they know our voters want to hear.”

Crenshaw said that the House Freedom Caucus members engage in “lie after lie after lie because they know something psychologically about the conservative heart: We’re worried about what people are going to do to us, what they’re going to infringe upon us — that’s the nature of conservatism.”

The House Freedom Caucus has at least 44 members who have publicly identified themselves: all Republicans, including U.S. representatives Jim Jordan (R-OH-4), Matt Gaetz (R-FL-1), Mo Brooks (R-AL-5), Paul Gosar (R-AZ-4), Andy Biggs (R-AZ-5), Lauren Boebert (R-CO-3), Madison Cawthorn (R-NC-11), and Ted Budd (R-NC-13).

The caucus has several members from Representative Crenshaw’s home state of Texas. Representatives Louie Gohmert (R-TX-1), Ronny Jackson (R-TX-13), Randy Weber (R-TX-14), Chip Roy (R-TX-21), and Michael Cloud (R-TX-27) are members.

Tennessee’s delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives contains two members of the House Freedom Caucus, Representatives Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-4) and Mark E. Green (R-TN-7).

Former House Freedom Caucus members Mick Mulvaney and Mark Meadows both left the House to serve in the Trump administration, each serving as chief of staff.

The House Freedom caucus was formed during a January 2015 Republican congressional retreat, to be a caucus of conservative U.S. representatives separate from the Republican Study Committee and House Republican Caucus. The House Freedom Caucus played an active role defending President Trump during the first impeachment proceedings.

Prior to Ortagus’ official entrance into the TN-5 GOP primary, President Trump sang her praises, encouraged her to run, and offered his endorsement. President Trump referred to her as “an absolute warrior for America First and MAGA” and praised her time in his administration, working under former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Representatives Madison Cawthorn and Majorie Taylor Greene have endorsed one of Ortagus’ opponents in the GOP primary, Robby Starbuck.

The Tennessee Star reached out to Congressman Crenshaw’s office for comment on his endorsement, but have not heard back as of this writing.

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Aaron Gulbransen is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected] “Morgan Ortagus” by U.S. Department of State. Photo “Dan Crenshaw” by United States House of Representatives Office of Photography. Background Photo “Tennessee State Capitol” by Brent Moore. CC BY 2.0.