Rep. Paul Gosar (Gage Skidmore)

During Michael Cohen’s devastating House testimony against President Donald Trump, it was difficult to keep up with what was going on, since so many bombshells dropped. You might have missed the comments made by Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar, a Republican. He was the one who called Cohen “liar, liar pants on fire.” It’s ironic Gosar questioned Cohen’s credibility since Trump has told more than 8,000 since he became president. However, there is also something else troubling, if not downright dangerous, about Gosar — he’s a conspiracy theorist.

Gosar first popped up on my radar when he was featured on a VICE News story. During the interview with reporter Elle Reeve, Gosar displayed his belief in conspiracy theories by claiming the Charlottesville domestic terror attack was a “false-flag operation” funded by billionaire Democratic donor George Soros. He also accused Soros of collaborating with the Nazis during World War II. (The story stems from the fact Soros’ guardian during WWII took him on his rounds to seize Jewish property. Soros was 14 at the time.)

Soros has supported several liberal causes with his money. However, he has also become Republicans’ favorite bogeyman. Since he’s foreign-born, Jewish and doesn’t have an Anglo last name, he fits several of their stereotypes. When Republicans talk about “globalists,” they really mean people like Soros. But the attacks against Soros has reached a dangerous level. Last year, he was targeted by MAGA bomber Cesar Sayac, who sent a pipe bomb to one of his homes.

Gosar was so insistent that President Barack Obama wasn’t born in this country, it caused a permanent rift with his family. One of his brothers said he was so disgusted with Gosar’s anti-Obama rhetoric, he walked out of a family gathering and swore off relations with him. Several of Gosar’s siblings campaigned against him in the last election.

But believing in anti-Semitic conspiracy theories isn’t the worst thing Gosar’s done.

He’s also a birther. Gosar was so insistent that President Barack Obama wasn’t born in this country, it caused a permanent rift with his family. One of his brothers said he was so disgusted with Gosar’s anti-Obama rhetoric, he walked out of a family gathering and swore off relations with him. Several of Gosar’s siblings campaigned against him in the last election. Gosars’ siblings called his attacks against Soros a “disgrace” and urged him to apologize.

Gosar, a Catholic, is also Islamophobic. He called out Pope Francis for his failure to condemn Islam. Gosar also boycotted the Pope’s address to Congress claiming Francis had “adopted all of the socialist talking points, wrapped false science and ideology into ‘climate justice’ and is being presented to guilt people into leftist policies.”

He’s anti-science. In spite of being a dentist, Gosar doesn’t trust science when it comes to global warming. He’s called global warming “questionable science” and compared it to dogmatic religious teaching. Gosar also once tried to impeach EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy for trying to implement policies that had “no scientific basis.” His legislation failed.

Gosar has also accused FBI and Department of Justice officials, such as Sally Yates, James Comey and Andrew McCabe, of treason because they tried to warn the public about Trump’s Russia ties. Gosar said they were traitors who needed to be prosecuted.

He supports bigots. According to The Independent, Gosar spoke at a London rally in support of Tommy Morrison, a British thug who wants to deport all Muslims from the country. Morrison is a convicted felon who once assaulted a police officer. Gosar was one of five congressmen who invited Morrison to speak in America. Morrison’s visa was denied.

Conspiracy theories have always been a problem in American politics, but have only worsened since President Barack Obama’s election — especially on the right.

“Obama-related notions have not diminished since he left office; a YouGov poll taken in December 2017 found that 51 percent of registered Republicans still believed he ‘probably’ or ‘definitely’ was born in Kenya. Rather than snapping back to reality once they regained power, Republicans have gone further off the deep end,” said The New Republic’s Colin Dickey.

I don’t know what’s going on in Gosar’s head. He’s an educated man, but he believes in the worst “alternative facts.” I don’t know if his brain has been pickled by Alex Jones or if he’s been brainwashed by years of right-wing propaganda. But either, way, he cannot determine fiction from reality and should not be in a position to make legislation.

Unfortunately, he resides in a conservative district. In 2018, he was reelected, winning 70 percent of the vote! Gosar has won election five times.