Harris campaign walks back Walz bio amid ‘stolen valor’ controversy as questions swirl
JD Vance accused Walz this week of “stolen valor rubbish”.
The Harris campaign changed its biography of Minnesota Governor. Tim Walz’s campaign website has changed a reference about his military service in light of ongoing scrutiny over the military credentials of 2024 Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz.
Walz was originally described as a “retired command sergeant major” in his biography.
The text has been changed to read that he was a “command sergeant major.”
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On Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris named Walz her running mate. This sparked a series attacks on Walz’s background as Minnesota Governor, lawmaker, and National Guard member for almost 25 years.
Walz was a command sergeant-major when he left the Guard. However, his rank was lowered months later, and he is now a master sergeant. Officials from the National Guard have stated that Walz retired before completing the requirements for the post, which included coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy. The lower rank was due primarily to benefit requirements, and a technicality.
Walz has been accused by Republicans of “stolen-valor garbage”
This week, Sen. JDVance, R. Ohio, former running mate of President Trump, told the media: “Don’t pretend to be anything you are not.” Vance is also a Marine Corps Veteran.
He said, “I would be ashamed to say that I lied like you about my service in the military.”
Vance accused Walz that he had dropped out of National Guard in order to avoid serving during the Iraq War.
“As a Marine, who has served his country as a Marine in uniform, when the United States Marine Corps asked me to go Iraq to serve my nation, I did so. “I did what they asked, and I did so honorably,” said Walz. When Tim Walz’s country asked him to go to Iraq what did he do? He left the Army, and let his unit go without him. This is something that many of the people he served with have criticized him for.”
The Minnesota National Guard, however, told Fox News Walz’s unit did not receive deployment orders until July and that he submitted his retirement papers between five and seven months before he retired in May 2005.
In a Fox News statement, Army Lt.Col. Ryan Rossman explained Walz’s position at the time he retired.
He was technically a command Sergeant Major when he deployed with his battalion to Europe, but in order to retire as CSM he needed to complete a final training course which he hadn’t completed. From a benefit perspective, the Army decided to retire him as a Master Sergeant (lower rank enlisted). According to National Guard records he was technically a command sergeant when deployed. It was a technicality and benefit requirements that caused the lower rank.
Vance cited Walz’s comments on gun control and said that the governor used his military background to try to push for gun restrictions.
When were you in war, Tim Walz? When was that? What weapon did you carry into the war, considering that you left your unit just before they went to Iraq. He hasn’t spent a single day in a war zone? Vance added, “What bothers me most about Tim Walz are the phony claims of valor stolen.”
The Harris campaign defended Walz’s record.
“After serving in the military for 24 years, Governor Walz retired and ran for Congress in 2005. He chaired Veterans Affairs, and was an unwavering advocate for our men in uniform. “As vice president, Walz will continue to be an unwavering champion for our military families and veterans,” said the campaign this week.
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