Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) issued a brutal fact check to CNN’s Dana Bash over the controversy surrounding Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz‘s military service and Iraq deployment.
As we reported last week, CNN attempted to downplay Vance’s military service while defeating Walz.
Walz claimed to have “carried weapons of war” during a war,” claiming he was a veteran of the War in Afghanistan.
However, Vance clarified on CNN that Walz “lied” when he said he did not know his unit would be deployed to Iraq when he “decided to retire.”
“On the question of when he left the National Guard, he filed his election paperwork, February 10th, 2005,” Bash told him.
“That was a month before the National Guard even announced that it was possible that they would deploy to Iraq, and it ended up being two months — he retired two months before they actually got the paperwork.”
“But, on CNN last night, Dana, one of the people who was actually in charge of him said they knew they were going to deploy to Iraq in February of 2004, excuse me, fall of 2004,” Vance said.
“So, he knew he was going to Iraq, he decided to quit, to retire, whatever word you want to use.”
Bash interjected to note that Walz had ‘retired.”
Wach
WATCH: @JDVance schools CNN’s Dana Bash as she tries to cover up the fact that her own network aired PROOF that Tim Walz abandoned his men.
— Arthur Schwartz (@ArthurSchwartz) August 11, 2024
“On CNN last night, one of the people who was actually in charge with him said they knew they were going to deploy to Iraq in Fall of 2004.… pic.twitter.com/f9901na3um
“Whatever, because he wanted to run for Congress,” Vance continued.
“He lied about that. He said that when he decided to retire, he did not know he was going to Iraq. That is another untruth, as even his senior military officer said. So again, I’m not criticizing the service, I’m criticizing the dishonesty.”
Walz faced criticism over reports that he retired from the military before his unit was deployed to Iraq, despite knowing the unit could be deployed to Iraq.
According to an archived press release from 2005 from m Walz’s campaign, the “National Guard Public Affairs Office” had “announced a possible partial mobilization of roughly 2,000 troops from the Minnesota National Guard”:
On Thursday, March 17 the National Guard Public Affairs Office announced a possible partial mobilization of roughly 2,000 troops from the Minnesota National Guard. First District congressional candidate Tim Walz currently holds the rank of Command Sergeant Major in the 1-125th Battalion, which is based in New Ulm and largely composed of men and women from southern Minnesota. The announcement from the National Guard PAO specified that all or a portion of Walz’s battalion could be mobilized to serve in Iraq within the next two years.
Walz, who teaches Global Geography at Mankato West High School, has been an active member of the National Guard since 1981. He has been previously deployed during his 23 years in the National Guard, including an eight-month deployment during Operation Enduring Freedom.
When asked about his possible deployment to Iraq Walz said, “I do not yet know if my artillery unit will be part of this mobilization and I am unable to comment further on specifics of the deployment.”
Although his tour of duty in Iraq might coincide with his campaign for Minnesota’s 1st Congressional seat, Walz is determined to stay in the race. “As Command Sergeant Major I have a responsibility not only to ready my battalion for Iraq, but also to serve if called on. I am dedicated to serving my country to the best of my ability, whether that is in Washington DC or in Iraq.”
“I don’t want to speculate on what shape my campaign will take if I am deployed, but I have no plans to drop out of the race. I am fortunate to have a strong group of enthusiastic supporters and a very dedicated and intelligent wife. Both will be a major part of my campaign, whether I am in Minnesota or Iraq.”
If called to duty, Walz would leave behind his wife Gwen and four year old daughter, Hope.
Walz retired from the military, and his unit was deployed to Iraq.
READ: JD Vance Blisters Tim Walz over Veteran Claims: ‘Not Spent One day in a Combat Zone’
