The 1995 DUI arrest of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has become a focal point as he campaigns for the Vice Presidency of the United States.
The Daily Mail reported that Walz's changing narratives over the years conflict with the arresting officer’s recent detailed disclosure.
In September 1995, Tim Walz, then a 31-year-old high school teacher, faced a significant legal issue. He was pulled over for driving significantly over the speed limit in Nebraska and was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence (DUI).
Nebraska State Trooper Steve Rasgorshek noticed that Walz was speeding at 96 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone. Upon interaction, a strong odor of alcohol was evident, leading to further sobriety tests which Walz failed.
The incident escalated when the field equipment malfunctioned, necessitating a hospital visit for a blood test, which confirmed Walz’s blood alcohol content at .128, well over the legal limit.
Walz was eventually booked into Dawes County Jail, a process extended until 2:45 AM due to logistical delays involving a tow truck and the necessary custodial supervision of his vehicle.
"He was stopped at 9:30 at night, and I didn't book him into jail until 2:45 in the morning," explained Rasgorshek. He identified the prolonged process was unusual but necessary under the circumstances.
This delay was partially because "another trooper finally came by and sat on the vehicle because we don't just arrest someone and leave their vehicle on the side of the road," Rasgorshek added.
The repercussions of this evening extended into the following year. In March 1996, Walz pleaded guilty to reckless driving, a lesser charge handled by his attorney, Russell Hartford, in court.
During the hearing, Walz provided a curious explanation for his speeding, claiming he believed he was being pursued by another vehicle, not realizing it was a state trooper.
"The officer didn’t turn on his red lights... and somebody came up real fast behind him and he didn’t know what they were doing so he sped up to try and get away, fearing that somebody was after him," Hartford narrated the incident.
After the incident, Walz, shaken by the ordeal, considered resigning from his role as a teacher at Alliance High School. He went as far as resigning from his extracurricular duties and contemplated stepping down from his teaching position altogether.
"Fortunately, the principal talked him out of resigning from school," shared Hartford, highlighting the community's support for Walz during this challenging time.
Ultimately, the court fined Walz $200 and suspended his driving license for 90 days, marking a turning point in his personal and professional life.
Over the decades, this incident has been referenced by Walz in his subsequent political campaigns, including his bids for Congress in 2006 and later for governor.
"He went and immediately reported this incident to his principal. He also offered to resign his teaching position because he felt so bad," Hartford remarked, illuminating Walz's remorse and subsequent redemption efforts.
By 2024, Walz has publicly abstained from alcohol and used his past mistakes as a teaching tool in both his professional and political life.
Rasgorshek and Walz’s narratives show discrepancies, especially concerning Walz's alleged hearing impairment during the arrest, which the officer disputes.
"I don’t recall him saying 'I have a problem hearing.' I can tell you if he did say that, I would have spoken up, but I can also tell you that I am not a quiet individual," Rasgorshek countered an explanation offered by Walz’s campaign.
Rasgorshek expressed a desire for transparency: "If he's allowing people to say something like this about something that happened 29 years ago, he should acknowledge it, address it, and it would be done with."
In conclusion, Governor Tim Walz’s past DUI incident has reemerged as a narrative critical to understanding the Vice Presidential candidate's integrity and willingness to own past mistakes.
This incident from 1995 involves conflicting accounts from the arresting officer and the politician’s own varying explanations over the years.
This story further shows that Walz can't be trusted to be honest, especially in light of his lies about his service in the National Guard. That further increases the liklihood that he lied about his DUI arrest in order to cover up a politically damaging story.
