House veterans fight over Walz’s claims of ‘stolen valor’

Controversy has erupted over the military service record of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, sparking a political firestorm on Capitol Hill. Both Democratic and Republican veterans have weighed in on the matter, with heated arguments on whether Walz misrepresented details of his 24-year career in the National Guard.

Republicans are accusing Walz of misleading information about his military service, particularly for leaving the National Guard to run for Congress shortly before his unit was deployed to Iraq. On the other hand, Democratic veterans in Congress have vehemently defended Walz, highlighting his extended service beyond his retirement eligibility and dismissing the GOP’s attacks as unfounded.

The situation intensified when former Marine and Republican Senator JD Vance accused Walz of “stolen valor,” igniting further controversy and bitter exchanges among politicians. The tensions escalated further when Vice President Kamala Harris selected Walz as her running mate, drawing both support and criticism from various corners.

House GOP members, including Rep. Mike Waltz, a former Green Beret, have spearheaded the attacks on Walz’s military record, while Democratic veterans like Rep. Jason Crow have rallied to his defense.

The Harris campaign responded to the mounting pressure with a press call featuring House Democratic military veterans like Reps. Jason Crow, Jake Auchincloss, and Mikie Sherrill, who spoke out in support of Walz and denounced the attacks against him as baseless and partisan.

Despite the intense scrutiny, Walz continues to maintain that he served honorably during his 24-year tenure in the National Guard. While he retired before his unit received orders to deploy to Iraq, supporters argue that his decision to run for Congress was made prior to being notified of the impending deployment.

Amidst the conflicting accounts and accusations, it has become evident that Walz’s military service record has become a focal point of contention in the political arena. The debate has not only divided lawmakers along party lines but also ignited passionate discussions among military veterans on both sides of the aisle.

As the controversy swirls around Walz’s past military service, questions continue to linger about the accuracy of his claims and the motivations behind the attacks leveled against him. Whether this issue will have a lasting impact on his political career remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – the debate over his military record shows no signs of abating anytime soon.