(TheProudRepublic.com) – 50 GOP lawmakers with military backgrounds have signed a letter condemning Democrat vice presidential candidate Tim Walz for making “egregious misrepresentations” about his 24 years in the Army National Guard.
This action comes after congressional Democrats last week urged an end to attacks on Walz’s military record.
Walz has faced scrutiny over several issues, including his retirement rank and claims about serving in a combat role.
“You have stated that you are ‘damn proud’ of your service, and like any American veteran, you should be,” the Republicans wrote. “But there is no honor in lying about the nature of your service.”
The letter’s signers include GOP Senators Joni Ernst from Iowa, Roger Marshall from Kansas, Rick Scott from Florida, and Roger Wicker from Mississippi.
The letter was signed by Representative Brian Mast of Florida, Representatives Don Bacon of Nebraska, and Ryan Zinke of Montana in the House.
Moreover, the letter accused Walz of “violating the trust of our brothers and sisters in arms” and stated, “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.”
Walz’s spokesperson responded by highlighting a statement from congressional Democrats who called him a “steadfast advocate for veterans and military families.”
In addition, the controversy includes claims that Walz’s campaign referred to him as a “retired command sergeant major,” a rank he held before retiring but later was reclassified to master sergeant. The campaign has since updated his biography.
In 2018, Walz made comments about weapons of war that he carried in war while discussing gun violence, though he did not serve in a combat zone.
He also faced criticism for retiring from the National Guard to run for Congress just before his unit was scheduled for deployment to Iraq.
In contrast, Senator J.D. Vance, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, has been a vocal critic of Walz, accusing him of “stolen valor.” At the same time, Walz has defended his military service, stating, “You should never denigrate another person’s service record.”
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