Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, recently announced as Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris' running mate, has been addressing longstanding allegations of a past DUI incident.
According to a report by the Irish Star, Walz has consistently denied being under the influence during a 1995 traffic stop in Nebraska.
The incident in question occurred when Walz, then working as a teacher in Nebraska, was pulled over for speeding in September 1995.
He was reportedly clocked at 96 mph in a 55 mph zone. A Nebraska state trooper's report noted "a strong odor of alcoholic beverage" emanating from Walz, and the future governor allegedly failed both a field sobriety test and a breath test.
Following the traffic stop, Walz was taken to Chadron Hospital for a blood test and subsequently booked into Dawes County Jail. Initially charged with driving under the influence and speeding, these charges were later reduced to a single count of reckless driving as part of a plea deal.
The incident resurfaced during Walz's successful 2006 campaign for a seat in Congress representing Minnesota's First District. At that time, Walz's campaign manager addressed the allegations, stating that his client was "not drunk" during the 1995 incident.
The campaign attributed any confusion during the traffic stop to Walz's hearing loss, which they claimed was related to his service in the National Guard. They explained that this hearing impairment had since been "surgically corrected."
Despite the campaign's explanations, neither the court documents nor the trooper's report mentioned any hearing problems experienced by Walz during the traffic stop. This discrepancy has led to ongoing speculation about the incident.
Although the results of the blood test taken at Chadron Hospital were not officially disclosed, they were reportedly mentioned during a March 13, 1996, hearing concerning the plea deal. Former Dawes County Attorney Rex Nowlan stated during this hearing:
Mr. Walz was driving south of town on 385 in Dawes County at a high rate of speed. Actually, he was driving away from the police officer. I think that he eventually hit a speed of over 80, as I recall. When he was stopped, he was given a blood test which did show a .128 blood alcohol.
This statement, if accurate, would indicate that Walz's blood alcohol concentration was above the legal limit at the time of the traffic stop.
The resurgence of this decades-old incident comes at a crucial time for Walz, as he prepares to join Kamala Harris on the campaign trail as her vice presidential pick. Harris is set to tour battleground states next week with her newly announced running mate.
While Walz has consistently denied being under the influence during the 1995 incident, the conflicting reports and explanations may pose challenges for the campaign. As the election season progresses, it remains to be seen how this past incident will impact public perception of Walz and, by extension, the Harris-Walz ticket.
In conclusion, the allegations surrounding Tim Walz's 1995 traffic stop continue to be a point of contention. While Walz maintains his innocence regarding the DUI allegations, the conflicting reports and explanations have kept the issue alive. As Walz steps into the national spotlight as Kamala Harris' running mate, this incident from his past is likely to face renewed scrutiny in the coming weeks and months of the presidential campaign.
