Congressional veterans are embroiled in a heated debate over Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's military service record, following accusations of "stolen valor" from Republican Senator JD Vance of Ohio.
The Hill reported that the controversy erupted after Vice President Kamala Harris announced Walz as her running mate, sparking a divide among lawmakers who have served in the armed forces.
Some Republican veterans, including Vance, have questioned Walz's military credentials, while Democrats have rallied in his defense, accusing the GOP of launching politically motivated attacks.
Walz, who served in the National Guard, has been criticized by Vance, a Marine Corps veteran, for leaving the service before his unit was deployed.
Vance's remarks were prompted by a clip of Walz discussing gun control, which had been shared by the Harris campaign. Vance's criticism extended to questioning whether Walz had ever experienced combat, further inflaming the debate.
Democrats in Congress quickly came to Walz's defense, with Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, a Marine Corps veteran, leading the charge on social media.
Moulton expressed his support for Walz, highlighting his service in the House and calling him a "true American patriot." Moulton also criticized Vance and former President Donald Trump for what he described as their pattern of denigrating honorable service members.
The accusations against Walz have also drawn criticism from other Democratic veterans, including Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, an Army veteran.
Crow condemned the attacks on Walz, drawing a comparison to Trump's past behavior, which included derogatory remarks about veterans. Crow labeled the attacks as disgraceful, particularly in light of Trump's avoidance of military service during the Vietnam War.
However, Republican veterans have not relented in their criticism of Walz. Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas, a Navy veteran who retired as a Master Chief, accused Walz of falsely claiming a high military rank. Gonzales argued that Walz's misrepresentation of his service record was a serious matter and called for him to be withdrawn as the vice-presidential nominee.
The criticism was echoed by other Republicans, including Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida and Rep. Brian Mast of Florida, both of whom served in the military. Luna, referencing Walz's candidacy on Purple Heart Day, expressed her disgust at what she perceived as Walz's attempt to pass himself off as a combat veteran.
Mast, a combat veteran himself, accused Walz of abandoning his fellow soldiers on the eve of their deployment to Iraq, questioning his fitness for any role near the commander-in-chief.
The controversy has also drawn parallels to past political attacks on military records, with Rep. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, a Navy veteran, likening the current criticism of Walz to the "swift boat" attacks against Senator John Kerry during his 2004 presidential campaign.
Sherrill noted that the same types of individuals were behind both campaigns, accusing them of engaging in a slanderous effort to undermine Walz's 24 years of service in the National Guard.
In response to the growing controversy, a spokesperson for Vance, Luke Schroeder, doubled down on the accusations, accusing Walz of running for office to avoid deployment. Schroeder argued that Walz's actions were an insult to veterans who had served in combat zones, such as Vance, and accused Walz of using "stolen valor" to advance his political career.
The debate over Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's military service record has exposed a deep divide among veterans in Congress.
As accusations of "stolen valor" continue to fly, Democrats have rallied to Walz's defense, condemning the GOP's attacks as politically motivated.
Meanwhile, Republican veterans remain steadfast in their criticism, accusing Walz of dishonesty and questioning his fitness for high office. As the controversy unfolds, the echoes of past political battles over military records serve as a stark reminder of the enduring power of such accusations in American politics.
