WATCH: Resurfaced Clip Shows Harris Running Mate Tim Walz Lied About Retirement Rank To Troops Headed To Iraq

A newly uncovered video from 2009 shows Democrat vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) falsely claiming that he's a "retired Command Sergeant Major" in a video message to the 34th Infantry Division during his time as the representative for Minnesota's First Congressional District. The resurfaced video is more evidence of Walz misrepresenting his military service during his political career as his past behavior is examined under a microscope after taking the national stage earlier this week.

As previously reported by the DC Enquirer, Walz has been accused of falsely claiming throughout his political career that he retired as the highest enlisted rank in the Army, a Command Sergeant Major. However, he did not complete the required coursework for the rank and subsequently was demoted back to an E-8 Master Sergeant by the Army National Guard upon his retirement in May 2005. Despite this fact, Walz has boasted about retiring as a Command Sergeant Major despite being demoted upon his retirement and only serving as an acting Command Sergeant Major for a few months in 2005.

In a resurfaced clip from 2009, Walz repeated the claim in a recorded message to the men of his former division who were being sent to go fight for the United States in Iraq. "It's a real honor to pay tribute to the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division and to your family and friends as you prepare to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom," the then-congressman said. "As a 24-year veteran of the National Guard and the Red Bull Division and a retired Command Sergeant Major, I'm especially proud of you. You are continuing a long and great tradition of service by the citizen soldiers of the 34th."

This clip, and many more like them, will be a headache for the Harris-Walz campaign to explain as accusations of "stolen valor" continue against the Minnesota governor. Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance (R-OH), a Marine veteran deployed to Iraq, has been particularly pointed out in his criticism of Walz's false claims. Earlier this week, during a campaign event in Shelby Township, Michigan, Vance condemned the Minnesota governor for lying about his military service and abandoning his men.

"You know what really bothers me about Tim Walz as a Marine who served his country in uniform? When the United States Marine Corps, when the United States of America asked me to go to Iraq to serve my country, I did it. I did it because they asked me to do it, and I did it honorably, and I'm very proud of that service. When Tim Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq, you know what he did? He dropped out of the Army and allowed his unit to go without him. A fact that he's been criticized for aggressively by a lot of the people who he served with. I think it's shameful to prepare your unit to go to Iraq, to make a promise that you're going to follow through, and then drop out right before you actually have to go."

WATCH:

2009. Congressman Tim Walz sends a farewell message to some soldiers actually deploying to Iraq.

In the message, Walz claims that he is a "retired Command Sergeant Major."

Lying about one's rank in a farewell message to soldiers deploying is about as dishonorable as it gets. pic.twitter.com/f7AIqPK8ky

— MAZE (@mazemoore) August 8, 2024

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