Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minn.) fled the scene after being questioned about whether he lied about his military history, a widening defamation scandal that has threatened his gubernatorial candidacy.
Walz and Vice President Kamala Harris were finishing up a brief speech to a small audience on a runway in Wisconsin on Wednesday, during which Harris praised Walz’s record, when reporters from a distance began bombarding him with questions, prompting Walz to make a hurried exit.
The two did not take questions (Harris has refused to hold a press conference or answer reporters’ questions for 17 days), but one reporter repeatedly yelled at Walz about claims by Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) and others that he lied about his military record.
Reporter: What is your reaction to the allegations of honor theft?
Waltz: *ignores*
Reporter: What is your reaction to the theft allegations?
Waltz: *runs away* pic.twitter.com/el3sPGDYuM
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) August 7, 2024
As the first round of questions began, Waltz began walking in the opposite direction, leaving Harris posing for photos with the children and others in a friendly atmosphere.
After reporters asked another question, Walz and his entourage appeared to drive off to a black SUV, leaving Harris on the tarmac.
Vance made the shocking accusation on Wednesday, explaining:
When Tim Waltz was asked by his country to go to Iraq, guess what he did? He quit the military and sent his troops there without him. This was roundly criticized by many who served with him. I think it’s disgraceful to prepare your troops to go to Iraq, promise to follow through on your promise, and then quit right before you have to go.
As Breitbart reported, Vance pointed out that Waltz, a retired Army National Guard sergeant major, not only left the Army before his unit deployed to Iraq, but also lied about his military service by claiming to have carried a weapon “in war” when he never served in combat or war.
The Ohio senator was referring to a video clip posted by the Harris-Walz campaign that shows Walz claiming that the weapon has “been used” “in war” even though it has never been deployed in combat.
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
Republicans have accused Walz of misrepresenting his rank by calling himself a sergeant even though he retired as that rank after being demoted.
I have seen the report on Tim Waltz’s military history and he has some explaining to do. pic.twitter.com/Qo6lhUbS4h
— Rep. Mike Waltz (@michaelgwaltz) August 7, 2024
Bradley Jay is Capitol Hill correspondent for Breitbart News. Follow him on X/Twitter. translator.
