Retired Command Sergeant Major Thomas Behrends has publicly criticized Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D), who is Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, as a “traitor” and “military imposter.” In a Facebook post, Behrends questioned the depth of Walz’s lies and deceit regarding his military career. The former military official shared a photo of Walz dressed in a military uniform alongside another photo that appeared to show him dressed in drag, which he described as being a true representation of who Walz “really is.
Behrends also accused Walz of leaving the military before being deployed to Iraq and criticized him for his decision not to serve. In an interview with the New York Post, Behrends stated that Walz had “the opportunity to serve his country, and said ‘Screw you’ to the United States.” He added that he would not have chosen Walz as a running mate for vice president.
The accusations against Walz go beyond merely questioning his dedication to service. Walz has also faced criticism and allegations of “stolen valor” after his official biography implied that he had retired at the rank of an E-9, or command sergeant major. Breitbart News reported that Walz served in the Minnesota Army National Guard and retired as a master sergeant, which is an E-8 rank. However, his official website bio initially listed him as having retired at the rank of command sergeant major, or an E-9, before it was updated to note that he had “once served at the command sergeant major rank.
In a letter published in the West Central Tribune, Behrends and another retired Army Command Sergeant Major, Paul Herr, accused Walz of having embellished and selectively omitted facts about his military career. They noted that Walz was conditionally promoted to Command Sergeant Major in 2004 but did not complete all the necessary requirements, rendering the promotion null and void.
The allegations against Governor Walz raise questions about the authenticity of his claimed military experience and whether it is an accurate representation of his service record. These concerns have prompted critics to call for further investigation into the accuracy of Walz’s claims about his time in the military, as well as a review of any potential consequences that may arise from these allegations on his political career.