A CNN host has expressed concerns about Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's 1995 DUI arrest, suggesting it may be a more significant issue for his vice presidential campaign than allegations of "stolen valor."
According to Fox News, CNN's Michael Smerconish discussed the matter, questioning Walz's previous campaign staff's handling of the incident and the Harris campaign's vetting process.
Smerconish stated that the DUI story is "indefensible" and raised doubts about Walz's past explanations for the incident. The host emphasized the importance of addressing this issue directly, as it could potentially impact Kamala Harris's presidential campaign.
On September 23, 1995, Tim Walz, who was working as a teacher in Nebraska, was pulled over for speeding. He was driving 96 mph in a 55 mph zone, which led to his arrest for driving under the influence.
In 2006, when Walz was running for Congress in Minnesota's 1st District, his campaign staff provided an explanation for the incident. They claimed that Walz was "not drunk" and attributed the situation to a "misunderstanding" with police due to Walz's "deafness," which they said had been "surgically corrected" since then.
However, Smerconish expressed skepticism about this explanation, stating, "I don't buy it." He questioned the connection between Walz's alleged hearing disability and the DUI arrest.
Official documents from the 1995 incident support the CNN host's concerns. A state trooper's report, obtained by Alpha News, contradicts the claims made by Walz's campaign staff in 2006.
According to the report, the arresting officer noted a "strong odor of alcoholic beverage" emanating from Walz's breath and person. Additionally, the report indicates that Walz failed both a field sobriety test and a preliminary breath test at the scene.
These details from the official report cast doubt on the explanation provided by Walz's campaign team, which attributed the incident to a hearing disability rather than intoxication.
Smerconish suggested that the controversy surrounding Walz's DUI arrest could have implications for the Harris campaign. He questioned the thoroughness of the vetting process, given the discrepancies between Walz's past statements and the official record.
The host recommended that the Harris campaign address the issue "full-on" to manage the potential fallout. He speculated that the rushed nature of Harris's candidacy might have contributed to overlooking or underestimating the significance of this incident in Walz's past.
Smerconish said:
Maybe this is as a result of the expedited nature of her ascendancy as a candidate. But it makes me wonder how much they really knew about it.
CNN host Michael Smerconish has raised concerns about Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's 1995 DUI arrest and its potential impact on the Harris vice presidential campaign. He questioned the explanations provided by Walz's previous campaign staff and suggested that the incident could be more problematic than other allegations against Walz. Smerconish emphasized the need for the Harris campaign to address the issue directly and thoroughly, highlighting potential shortcomings in the vetting process. The controversy surrounding Walz's past continues to be a topic of discussion as the campaign moves forward.
