Veterans in House and Senate condemn Walz’s ‘stolen valor’

More than half of the veterans in the House and Senate slammed Democratic running mate Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) on Wednesday for lying about his military career in what critics call a classic case of “stolen valor.”

In a three-page memo put out by the Trump-Vance campaign, 50 veterans demanded an apology and explanation from Walz, who lied about being in combat and his rank at retirement.

“You have violated the trust of our brothers and sisters in arms. Their blood, sweat, and sacrifice are the only reason our nation is able to exist. Until you admit you lied to them, there is no way you can be trusted to serve as vice president,” the veterans said.

It was signed by four senators and 46 House members.

Walz has refused to discuss his military resume with reporters, and the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris has kept him from talking about it.

Online, however, there are several examples of him talking about following his National Guard group into war in Iraq. He left his unit before it went to battle.

He also has claimed to be a “retired command sergeant major,” a rank he was stripped of because he didn’t complete the required work. He repeatedly made that claim in past political appearances.

The memo was a response to Democratic veterans backing Walz and the campaign’s effort to smooth the controversy over by saying Walz supports veterans.

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The Trump campaign and especially running mate Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, have been critical of Walz’s lies though not his 24 years of National Guard service.

“You’ve already demonstrated your unwillingness to lead in time of war and a lack of honor through your blatant misrepresentations exploiting and co-opting the experiences of America’s combat veterans for personal gain. As a result, America’s veterans and servicemembers are rightfully concerned about what would happen to them should you ascend to the presidency,” the 50 Trump supporters and veterans said in their memo.