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Breaking: Ed Gallrein (Thomas Massie’s opponent) 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. Gallrein received two PPP loans during COVID, including one used to pay himself for farm work. His campaign frequently shares photos and stories highlighting his supposed active involvement in farm labor. On the Bill Cunningham Show, he cited “farm work to do” as the reason for skipping a debate with Massie. Real full-time farm work is physically demanding and inconsistent with what most people would expect from someone receiving full disability benefits. This raises serious questions about consistency, transparency, and accountability—especially amid growing scrutiny of disability and Medicaid fraud nationwide. If elected to Congress, how does Mr. Gallrein plan to address these issues? My initial documentation includes an affidavit signed by Gallrein stating he is 100% disabled and qualifying for special property tax rates. I submitted the following questions to the Gallrein campaign: - Given that farm work is physically demanding, I would like to understand the nature of Mr. Gallrein’s disability. Is it physical, mental, or both? - If the disability is physical, how is Mr. Gallrein able to perform the demanding tasks associated with operating a farm? Alternatively, has the campaign overstated his day-to-day involvement in farm operations? - If the 100% disability rating stems from a mental health condition, how would this affect his ability to serve effectively in Congress? Members of Congress routinely face high-pressure situations, intense media scrutiny, and debates. Would such a condition impact his capacity to represent constituents under these circumstances? - Has Mr. Gallrein’s disability played a role in his decision to cancel appearances at several Lincoln Day dinners? Has it also factored into the campaign’s decision not to participate in a debate or forum with Congressman Massie? The campaign responded that his rating is “100% physical—physical only,” but that he works the farm anyway “because in Kentucky, that’s what you do when there’s work to be done.” This response still leaves important questions unanswered about how a 100% physical disability squares with the manual labor he publicly claims to perform.