Team,

For years, Tucker Carlson has made authoritarianism, far-right conspiracy theories, and vile, dehumanizing rhetoric his bread and butter. It’s transformed him into perhaps the most popular media figure on the pro-Trump far-right.

Nothing about Tucker Carlson embodies American patriotism. But on Monday, he had the audacity to question mine.

I’m sure you are wondering how I ended up in the crosshairs of America’s most insufferable bow-tie-wearing bozo. It’s simple: I proposed bipartisan legislation focused on actually fixing our broken immigration system.

Last month, I introduced the Courage To Serve Act, bipartisan legislation that provides an expedited path to citizenship for migrants who pass extensive security checks and serve in the military. Along with my fellow West Point classmate, I brought to the table a unique solution to two challenges facing our country: an influx of migrants looking to work, build a better life for their families, and contribute to our country, as well as a recruitment crisis within the ranks of our Armed Forces.

The bottom line is this: If someone is willing to put their life on the line in service to our country, they sure as hell deserve the opportunity to become an American citizen.

It’s precisely the kind of pragmatic, common-sense solution we need to strengthen border security and exactly why a guy like Tucker Carlson would oppose it. Tucker and the far-right fringes he serves, mainly Donald Trump, aren’t at all interested in finding common ground or working toward common sense solutions; instead, they insult our men and women in uniform and fan the flames of racism to stoke fear and sow division. It’s everything that’s wrong with our politics and everything I have spent my life fighting against.

I believe America is at its best when patriots stand up and fight for what is right. I don’t expect Tucker Carlson to understand — he’s not a patriot. He’s a provocateur, a dog-whistling mouthpiece who’s all about division and, above all else, a traitor.

Team, you elected me to work hard, to find common ground, and to present meaningful solutions to the problems we face here in the Hudson Valley and across the country. That’s who I’ve always been. It’s who I will always be — and that is just one more thing a guy like Tucker could never understand. I want to thank you for standing with me and for having my back time and again.

We’ll keep fighting. Together.

Pat