A handful of Republican members of Congress defended one of their Democratic counterparts on Wednesday and, amazingly, it’s not an April Fools’ Day joke.

Congress is currently in recess for two weeks amid a partial government shutdown that started in February and has left other government employees working for free.

The resultant chaos inspired TMZ to ask the public to send photos of politicians vacationing during the shutdown.

Some of the lawmakers who’ve been caught on camera include Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who was seen on a trip to Walt Disney World, and Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), who was photographed at a Las Vegas casino bar.

On Wednesday, TMZ added Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) to the ever-growing list and published a photo of him working as the timekeeper at his 12-year-old son’s basketball game.

The Florida Democrat hadn’t commented on the story as of Wednesday afternoon, but many of his Republican colleagues seemed to think that TMZ’s attempted takedown was off-base.

Moskowitz’s timekeeping at his child’s basketball game offered better optics than “a childless Senator at Disney,” wrote Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), taking a swipe at fellow Republican Graham on X.

Better than a childless Senator at Disney. Nothing but net, dad 🏀👏 https://t.co/cQOcTSjHPp

Other Republican members of Congress and conservative media figures also came to Moskowitz’s defense, lauding him as a “Great Dad” and calling his support for his son’s team “wholesome.”

I 110% support @RepMoskowitz spending time with his son! Great Dad!!We need more of this in America, not less!!! https://t.co/UBA27GaGFK

More Congressmen should spend time with their kids like @JaredEMoskowitz https://t.co/uRZ5B555sK

This one is wholesome. https://t.co/VjvATzamOc

Others called TMZ out.

So you're just stalking dudes at their kids' basketball games now? https://t.co/myHszMEvQu

Looks like TMZ may need to open up a Spokane bureau. I picked up kids from two schools this week and took them to XC, boxing, piano, Scouts and basketball. It was awesome. We may even do family camping trip this Spring. I love being a dad to five great kids! 🇺🇸 https://t.co/kaAKc1aTYM

I like what you guys are doing but this one is off the mark. There's nothing embarrassing about the guy helping out at his son's basketball game. It's actually wholesome. I wish more politicians spent their free time this way. https://t.co/22yywat7Xt

Dads — and moms — should be at as many of their kids games as possible, no matter what their politics are. Big swing and a miss here to criticize this. https://t.co/1PJjy4jAiB

I'm unclear on what the congressman is supposed to be doing wrong according to this story. The House is not in session. What's wrong with him going home in the meantime and spending time with his family/community? https://t.co/Utf07X32f3

And a few people suggested a tongue-in-cheek conspiracy theory that Moskowitz or his staffers had planted the story.

I assume the anonymous tipster here is a staffer for Jared Moscovitz trying to make his boss look good https://t.co/5MczlWFDP3

A good plot twist would be that Moskowitz leaked this one himself https://t.co/KXspB3RGax

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