Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the running mate of 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, was aware of defamation allegations dating back to 2006, an investigative outlet reported. Report From CNN.
While there’s no doubt that Waltz served in the US National Guard, his use of the rank “retired Army Sergeant Major” sparked accusations of defamation and allegations that he carried a weapon “in war” despite never having served in a war or combat zone. Breitbart News reported that Waltz “listed a higher rank on his official resume than the rank he ultimately discharged with, drawing criticism from some veterans.”
Waltz served in the Minnesota Army National Guard and retired at the rank of Sergeant (E-8). However, his biography on his official website lists a higher rank in which he served briefly, but which was ultimately revoked because he did not meet all of the requirements for that rank. However, his biography suggests he retired at the rank of Command Sergeant (E-9).
Following reports raising questions about the use of ranks, the Kamala Harris campaign posted on its official website: biography Regarding Waltz, the statement removed the description that he was a “retired master sergeant,” stating only that he once served at the rank of master sergeant.
According to CNN, Walz has faced criticism about his military service since he ran for Congress in 2006, but denied it at the time.
That year, several letters to a local newspaper in Mankato, Minnesota, accused him of making misleading statements about his military service, including whether he had served in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Waltz found the allegations to be serious and responded to both charges personally.
The complaint alleges that Waltz served in Italy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, but did not clarify that he served in Afghanistan.
While statements and advertisements paint a confused picture of Waltz’s military service, in other interviews from the time, Waltz said he was deployed to Italy instead of Afghanistan because “it wasn’t glamorous.” In other interviews, Waltz said he was deployed to Italy “in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.” During the 2006 campaign, biography “Prior to his retirement, Waltz served overseas with his battalion in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. advertisement The ad, which featured a front-page newspaper photo of the Twin Towers burning, called Waltz “a soldier who served 20 years but was ready when the time came.” The ad also said Waltz was a “master sergeant four years late retiring after serving in support of the war in Afghanistan.”
Some of the ads came under scrutiny at the time, and several letters were sent to the editor of local newspapers complaining that Waltz had written about his military service in a way that suggested he had served in Iraq or Afghanistan.
“It strongly suggests he served in Iraq or Afghanistan, but does not say in which country,” the letter reads. Archived “Because the information is not classified, Walz can tell constituents where he has deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as his BOG (forces on ground) dates. If Walz has not deployed there, he should say so.”
Several letters were written in support of Walz.
“I was wondering when Republicans would start ‘Swift Voting’ Tim Walz,” one post read. “Tim Walz has never lied about his military service. I’ve heard him speak a few times and he always explains that his battalion deployed to Italy during Operation Enduring Freedom and supported U.S. troops fighting in Afghanistan.”
The accusations were so strong that Waltz himself Respond.
“On Saturday, the Free Press published a letter insinuating that I have exaggerated my military history. The details of my military history can easily be found in numerous articles in the Free Press and other newspapers; therefore, I cannot help but believe that this letter is intended to defame me,” Waltz wrote. “The record shows that I served in the Army National Guard for 24 years, retiring as a Master Sergeant in May 2005, served on three NATO training missions to the Arctic, deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and served in Italy from 2003-2004.”
“The use of innuendo to smear the character of a candidate has no place in this debate,” he added. “This country must do more because there are too many important issues facing us for us to do less.”
The allegations surfaced again in November 2006, but Mr. Waltz also denied them. At least one former military officer, Sergeant Ryan Marti, has defended Mr. Waltz.
The viral video, first shared by X’s Kamala HQ account on Wednesday, features Waltz recommending gun control and then saying he carries weapons in war.
I was in the Army for 25 years and I hunt. I have voted for common sense legislation that protects the Second Amendment, but we can do background checks. We can do CDC research. Weapons of war. What I Carried with Me to the War This is the only place these weapons exist. [Emphasis added]
A Kamala HQ account repeated his claims in a post sharing the video.
Governor Tim WaltzI was in the Army for 25 years and I hunt. I’ve voted for common sense legislation that protects the Second Amendment, but we can do background checks. We can study the impact of gun violence. We can do war weapons. pic.twitter.com/3IVaXi2RP2
— Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) August 6, 2024
In a subsequent report, Washington Free Beacon On Wednesday, they also claimed that Waltz had previously described himself as a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, according to Breitbart News.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), who is facing defamation charges, allegedly falsely claimed in a previous press release that he was an Afghanistan veteran.
In a 2006 press release: issued On the campaign trail, Walz was described as a “veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom.”
The Afghanistan War began on October 7, 2001. It is called The mission, called Operation Enduring Freedom, was launched after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, according to the Naval History and Heritage Command website.
“Democrat Tim Walz will tour Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District on Sunday, February 19 and Monday, February 20 to formally announce his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives,” the press release states. “A veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and a longtime Mankato educator, Walz is unbeatable among the Democratic base and will be challenging Rep. Gil Gutknecht in November 2006.”
Photos from that time show Waltz taking part in a protest against President George W. Bush, holding a sign that read, “For Veterans of Enduring Freedom.” [John] “Kelly.”
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