Rep. Jared Moskowitz Wore ‘Justice for Cricket’ Pin During Noem Hearing

During a House Judiciary Committee hearing on March 4, 2026, Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) wore a pin reading “Justice for Cricket,” referencing a dog that then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described shooting in her 2024 autobiography, No Going Back.

The Pin and the Hearing

A photograph of Moskowitz wearing the pin although holding documents during the hearing circulated online, prompting questions about its meaning. Videos of the hearing, reviewed by Snopes, confirm Moskowitz wore the pin while questioning Noem. The hearing took place as Congress debated funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The following day, President Donald Trump announced he was replacing Noem with Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK).

The Story of Cricket

In her book, Noem recounted an incident involving Cricket, a 14-month-old wirehair pointer. Noem described Cricket as having an “aggressive personality” and detailed a hunting trip where the dog ran ahead and “flushed birds out of range.” She stated she could not recall the dog and felt the hunt was ruined.

Noem further explained that after the hunt, Cricket escaped from the truck and attacked the neighbors’ chickens. After securing the dog, Noem decided to euthanize her.

“As I drove home, I realized I had no choice. Cricket was untrainable and, after trying to bite me, dangerous to anyone she came in contact with,” Noem wrote. “At that moment, I realized I had to put her down. As I pulled into the driveway, I decided that I had to deal with this problem myself… It was not a pleasant job — but it had to be done.”

Additional Context

The incident sparked widespread discussion and criticism of Noem. During the House hearing, Noem also addressed questions regarding a potential romantic relationship with her top advisor, Corey Lewandowski, dismissing the inquiries as “tabloid garbage.”

For further reading, Snopes has addressed several rumors about Noem, including the claim that Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., asked her about a salacious text from her chief of staff, Corey Lewandowski.