A prominent veterans organization is calling a Trump campaign attack, “a textbook example of Stolen Valor as they attempt to Swift Boat” Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee.
“Here is the truth: Republicans are trying to make Tim Walz service a big issue in this campaign. And we at VoteVets will be on the leading edge of defending him,” said an email from the organization.
“There is nothing Republicans like to do more than attack veterans. Twenty-years ago during the Democratic Convention, they did it with the Purple Heart band-aids, mocking John Kerry’s service in Vietnam,” said the email.
The Trump campaign shared a letter that was signed by 50 Republican members of Congress attacking Walz over minor discrepancies, who retired from the National Guard after 24 years of service.
The letter “was a textbook example of Stolen Valor,” noting that “A full 29 of the 50 signatures come from Republicans who falsely claimed they are retired.”
“Calling yourself Retired means something,” the message explained. “It speaks to a length of time in service that many of the people on that list of Republicans never fulfilled.”
Trump’s former White House physician, Ronny Jackson, retired from the Navy on even as the Defense Department’s Inspector General continued to investigate allegations that he was periodically intoxicated and mishandled prescription drugs.
Typically military officials under inspector general investigation are not allowed to retire until the probe is completed, but the Texas native ran for Congress as a Republican in the 13th District.
In July 2022, the Navy demoted Jackson from to captain for actions “not in keeping with the standards the Navy citing “substantiated allegations” in the Defense Department’s inspector general investigation.
VoteVets called Jackson’s claim to be a retired flag officer despite being demoted from Rear Admiral to Captain, “the most egregious example” of Stolen Valor in the letter attacking Walz.
“Troy Nehls was on the list as well, which would be funny to anyone who has seen him wear a Combat Infantryman’s Badge that he never earned!,” said VoteVets.
For the first time in the group’s nearly 20-year history, VoteVets made an endorsement in the presidential general election, backing the Harris-Walz ticket in 2024.
Tim Walz is a National Guard veteran, and the group only endorses veterans, national security professionals, and military family members.
“The Harris-Walz ticket will defend America and our veterans,” the group said in a statement. “Vice President Harris already was the best choice for America in this election, but the addition of Governor Walz will supercharge this ticket, and we’re proud to back it.”
“With a veteran on the ticket, veterans, servicemembers, and military families can rest assured that a Harris-Walz administration will always have their six. This ticket now has the highest-ranked enlisted man ever to serve in Congress on it. Tim Walz understands national security and understands the impacts decisions have on enlisted Troops and their families. And for those Americans who did not serve, they too can rest easy that Vice President Harris will have someone who served in uniform and deeply understands national security by her side,” the group said.
“It isn’t a one-off insult of our troops and our veterans,” said VoteVets after Trump’s disparaging remarks about the Medal of Honor. “It started when he got out of Vietnam by lying about bone spurs, continued on when he tried to kick veteran vendors off of 5th Avenue, insulted John McCain, insulted Gold Star Families, called our fallen suckers and losers, refused to go to a military cemetery, told the military to stop having wounded warriors perform at ceremonies because ‘nobody wants to see that.’ It isn’t just that Donald Trump doesn’t respect Veterans and their sacrifice. It’s that Donald Trump hates veterans and their sacrifice, because he looks so small in comparison to them.”
Backed by over 1.5 million veterans, military family members and their supporters, VoteVets Action Fund uses public issue campaigns to elevate the voices of veterans on matters of national security, veterans’ care, and everyday issues that affect the lives of those who served, their families, and the country.
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