An escalating controversy has targeted Governor Tim Walz over his claims of previous military rank.
Retired Command Sergeant Major Tom Behrends accused Walz, now the Democratic vice presidential nominee, of misrepresenting his military rank.
Breitbart News reported that Tom Behrends, who replaced Walz during a deployment in Iraq, charged that Walz failed to complete the necessary steps to legally earn the title of command sergeant major. According to Behrends, Walz did not attend the United States Army Sergeant Majors Academy nor meet the two-year service requirement post-academy, which is essential for rank confirmation.
The accusations have come to light prominently after Vice President Kamala Harris announced her selection of Walz as her running mate. Behrends expressed his concerns during a recent interview on Sirius XM’s Breitbart News Daily, indicating the gravity of his claims.
According to Behrends, failing to meet these prerequisites led to Walz's demotion to master sergeant, a rank below that of command sergeant major. His assertions underline questions about the integrity of Walz’s public service record.
Walz retired from the Army in 2005, opting out of deployment, which left his unit without their senior enlisted leader. Behrends criticized Walz for choosing retirement over deployment, suggesting that Walz was provisionally serving as a command sergeant major before his premature retirement.
Behrends initially brought these accusations forward during Walz's 2018 gubernatorial campaign. He reasserts that Walz manipulated his military narrative to gain political support, a move he describes as unethical and misleading to voters.
Tom Behrends conveyed his disdain for Walz's actions, remarking on the alleged manipulation of his military credentials for electoral advantages. "He's a military imposter, is what he is," Behrends stated, drawing a harsh comparison between Walz and civilians who falsify military service.
As the debate escalated, Walz responded to the criticism by emphasizing respect for military service and dismissing the allegations as disrespectful to a fellow veteran. He expressed discontent with the portrayal of his service record, emphasizing his commitment to military values.
Behrends also accused the governor of having undue influence over the media in Minnesota, claiming that Walz kept a close rein on his public narrative. “He had the media in Minnesota under his thumb, and he kind of kept the narrative going,” Behrends alleged.
The controversy has been amplified by its discussion on national platforms, including Sirius XM's Breitbart News, which provided Behrends an avenue to voice his accusations broadly. This has shifted the scrutiny from a state-level issue to a national dialogue about Walz's integrity and honesty.
Tom Behrends encapsulated his frustrations and the broader implications of these allegations against Walz with detailed criticism: "There’s a civilian version of it that buys a uniform at Goodwill and puts it on and walks around and acting like he’s something he’s not."
Tom Behrends has repeatedly accused Governor Tim Walz of falsely claiming the military rank of command sergeant major, highlighting missed educational and service requirements. These charges resurfaced prominently after Walz was announced as the running mate for the current vice president. The dispute has raised significant questions about the authenticity of Walz's representations and his influence over media narratives, culminating in a heated national debate over his eligibility and truthfulness.
