'Congressman Flores did not endorse Mr. Estevez’
Last week, during the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Estevez announced the endorsement in a tweet featuring a photo of the two together. “Blessed to be Endorsed by Congressman Bill Flores, Texas,” he wrote.
In an email to Miscellany Blue, Flores press secretary Andre Castro denied the endorsement, categorically and succinctly. “Congressman Flores did not endorse Mr. Estevez,” he wrote.
It’s not the first time Estevez has found himself in a dispute over an endorsement claim.
Earlier this month, Estevez deleted a tweet announcing he had received an endorsement from state Rep. Jeff Oligny (R-Plaistow) after Oligny told WMUR that he had not endorsed anyone in the 2nd District race.
Estevez explained the mixup by claiming Oligny had “reversed his decision” after endorsing him earlier. “I am disappointed he failed to provide our campaign with the proper advance prior notice,” Estevez told Patch.
In his 2010 campaign for the Massachusetts House, Estevez was forced to retract a claim that he had been endorsed by the Massachusetts Association of Italian American Police Officers (MAIAPO).
Boston.com reported Estevez initially blamed an intern for mistakenly distributing an unauthorized press release but then claimed his campaign publicized the endorsement only after reading about it in the North Shore Tab.
North Shore Tab editor Richard Ireton disputed Estevez’ account, telling Boston.com that Estevez provided the endorsement information that he used in the story.