50 House, Senate veterans blast Tim Walz over stolen valor

Veterans who served in the US Armed Forces and now serve the American people in Congress took issue on Tuesday with Kamala Harris' VP pick Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota for false claims about his military service. 50 sitting House and Senate lawmakers relayed their concern that Walz will not be able to earn the trust of voters if he cannot be honest about his own record of service.

"The Office of the Vice President is a position that requires the trust of the American people and a solemn commitment to duty on behalf of the United States of America," the letter to Walz from congressional veterans begins. "As veterans who have served our nation, we feel compelled to address your egregious misrepresentations and urge you to come clean to the American people."

"You have stated that you are 'damn proud' of your service, and like any American veteran, you should be. But there is no honor in lying about the nature of your service. Repeatedly claiming to be a 'Retired Command Sergeant Major' when you did not complete the requirements was not honorable. Nor was it honorable to claim to carry weapons “in war” when you had not served in war, and abandoning the men and women under your leadership just as they were getting ready to deploy was certainly not honorable either."

"To be blunt, when you falsely claim military service that did not happen and abandon your post, you diminish the real sacrifices made by veterans who did serve in combat. Military service is not merely a job or a uniform. Those who serve in the Armed Forces endure rigorous training, face perilous situations, and make sacrifices that most civilians can’t comprehend. The honor of wearing the uniform is earned through dedication, bravery, and an unwavering sense of duty. You have displayed none of these characteristics as you have lied your way through a political career launched on the foundation of a title you did not earn and combat deployments you did not take part in."

"In short, our grave concern stems from the fact that the office of the Vice President is one heartbeat away from becoming the Commander-In-Chief. You’ve already demonstrated your unwillingness to lead in time of war and a lack of honor through your blatant misrepresentations exploiting and co-opting the experiences of America’s combat veterans for personal gain."

"As a result, America’s veterans and servicemembers are rightfully concerned about what would happen to them should you ascend to the Presidency. When America asked you to lead your troops into War, you turned your back on your troops. You have violated the trust of our brothers and sisters in arms. 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 used the title Command Sergeant Major, to which he was conditionally promoted during his time in the National Guard but demoted from upon his leaving, as he did not fulfill all his conditions. His men were deployed to Iraq without him, as he left in order to run for Congress, a race he won. Men in his unit, under his command, did not return home from their Iraq deployment. Walz was reduced to the rank of Master Sergeant.

A full list of those who signed follows:

Brian Mast, Chair of Veterans and Military Families for Trump; U.S. Representative (FL-21); Staff Sergeant - U.S. Army (Ret.); Joni Ernst, U.S. Senator (IA); Lieutenant Colonel - Army National Guard (Ret.); Roger Marshall, U.S. Senator (KS); Captain - U.S. Army Reserve (Ret.)

Rick Scott, U.S. Senator (FL); Petty Officer Third Class - U.S. Navy (Ret.); Roger Wicker, U.S. Senator (MS); Lieutenant Colonel - U.S. Air Force Reserve (Ret.); Brian Babin, U.S. Representative (TX-36); Captain - U.S. Air Force (Ret.)

Don Bacon, U.S. Representative (NE-02); Brigadier General - U.S. Air Force (Ret.); Jim Baird, U.S. Representative (IN-04); First Lieutenant - U.S. Army (Ret.); Jim Banks, U.S. Representative (IN-03); Lieutenant - U.S. Navy Reserve (Ret.)

Jack Bergman, U.S. Representative (MI-01); Lieutenant General - U.S. Marine Corps Reserve (Ret.); Mike Bost, U.S. Representative (IL-12); Corporal - U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.); Mike Carey, U.S. Representative (OH-15); U.S. Army Reserve (Ret.)

Eli Crane, U.S. Representative (AZ-02); Petty Officer First Class - U.S. Navy (Ret.); Warren Davidson, U.S. Representative (OH-08); Captain - U.S. Army (Ret.); Neal Dunn, U.S. Representative (FL-02); Major - U.S. Army (Ret.)

Jake Ellzey, U.S. Representative (TX-06); Commander - U.S. Navy (Ret.); Pat Fallon, U.S. Representative (TX-04); Captain - U.S. Air Force (Ret.); Scott Fitzgerald, U.S. Representative (WI-05); Lieutenant Colonel - U.S. Army Reserve (Ret.)

Scott Franklin, U.S. Representative (FL-18); Commander - U.S. Navy (Ret.); Tony Gonzales, U.S. Representative (TX-23), Master Chief Petty Officer - U.S. Navy (Ret.); Mark Green, U.S. Representative (TN-07); Major - U.S. Army (Ret.)

Brett Guthrie, U.S. Representative (KY-02); First Lieutenant - U.S. Army (Ret.); Clay Higgins, U.S. Representative (LA-03); Staff Sergeant - Army National Guard (Ret.); Wesley Hunt, U.S. Representative (TX-38); Captain - U.S. Army (Ret.)

Darrell Issa, U.S. Representative (CA-48); Captain - U.S. Army (Ret.); Ronny Jackson, U.S. Representative (TX-13); Rear Admiral - U.S. Navy (Ret.); Jen Kiggans, U.S. Representative (VA-02); U.S. Navy (Ret.)

Nick LaLota, U.S. Representative (NY-01); Lieutenant - U.S. Navy (Ret.); Greg Lopez, U.S. Representative (CO-04); U.S. Air Force (Ret.); Barry Loudermilk, U.S. Representative (GA-11); Staff Sergeant - U.S. Air Force (Ret.)

Anna Paulina Luna, U.S. Representative (FL-13); Senior Airman - U.S. Air Force (Ret.); Rich McCormick, U.S. Representative (GA-06); Commander - U.S. Navy (Ret.); Max Miller, U.S. Representative (OH-07); Corporal - U.S. Marine Corps Reserve (Ret.)

Mariannette Miller-Meeks, U.S. Representative (IA-01); Lieutenant Colonel - U.S. Army (Ret.); Cory Mills, U.S. Representative (FL-07); Sergeant - U.S. Army (Ret.); Barry Moore, U.S. Representative (AL-02); Staff Sergeant - Army National Guard (Ret.)

Troy Nehls, U.S. Representative (TX-22); Major - U.S. Army Reserve (Ret.); Zach Nunn, U.S. Representative (IA-03); Colonel - U.S. Air Force Reserve; Scott Perry, U.S. Representative (PA-10); Brigadier General - Army National Guard (Ret.)

August Pfluger, U.S. Representative (TX-11); Colonel - U.S. Air Force (Ret.); Guy Reschenthaler, U.S. Representative (PA-14); Lieutenant - U.S. Navy (Ret.); Hal Rogers, U.S. Representative (KY-05); Staff Sergeant - Army National Guard (Ret.)

Keith Self, U.S. Representative (TX-03); Lieutenant Colonel - U.S. Army (Ret.); Gregory Steube, U.S. Representative (FL-17); Captain - U.S. Army (Ret.); William Timmons, U.S. Representative (SC-04); Captain - Air National Guard

Derrick Van Orden, U.S. Representative (WI-03); Senior Chief Petty Officer - U.S. Navy (Ret.); Michael Waltz, U.S. Representative (FL-06); Colonel - Army National Guard (Ret.); Brandon Williams, U.S. Representative (NY-22); Lieutenant - U.S. Navy (Ret.)

Joe Wilson, U.S. Representative (SC-02); Colonel - Army National Guard (Ret.); Ryan Zinke, U.S. Representative (MT-01); Commander - U.S. Navy (Ret.)