How many exaggerated politician military records are there

(NewsNation) — Conversations astir vice statesmanlike campaigner Tim Walz's alleged "stolen valor" person tally rampant since the politician was introduced connected the Democratic ticket.

In the Harris-Walz campaign's archetypal unscripted interview, Walz told CNN's Dana Bash helium didn't usage the champion grammar successful describing his subject work erstwhile the connection "war" was involved.

Though accusations of exaggerated work are a communal refrain successful authorities — similar those made against erstwhile Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., by erstwhile President Trump, oregon against Obama-era U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry by erstwhile President George W. Bush — however often are politicians really distorting their service?

Though acold from extensive, present are immoderate of the high-profile subject exaggerations made by U.S. politicians.

Wes Moore

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said Thursday that helium made “an honorable mistake” successful failing to close a White House fellowship exertion 18 years agone erstwhile helium wrote helium had received a Bronze Star for his subject work successful Afghanistan though helium ne'er ended up receiving it, aft The New York Times obtained a transcript of the exertion and reported connected it.

The newspaper, which obtained the papers arsenic portion of a Freedom of Information Act request, reported that Moore made the assertion connected the exertion successful 2006 erstwhile helium was 27.

“My lawman brigade commandant felt comfy with instructing maine to see the grant connected my exertion for the Fellowship due to the fact that helium received confirmation with the support authorization that the Bronze Star was signed and approved by his elder leadership,” Moore wrote.

The politician besides wrote that successful the military, “there is an knowing that if a elder serviceman tells you that an enactment is approved, you tin spot that arsenic a fact. That is wherefore it was portion of the application, plain and simple.”

Though it was brought up successful aggregate interviews during his gubernatorial campaign, helium ne'er corrected reporters connected his subject accolades.

Ronald Reagan

The 40th president of the United States was accused during his archetypal word successful bureau of embellishing his World War II service. Though Reagen did service successful the Army Air Forces, his poor eyesight kept him stateside for the entirety of his subject career.

Ronny Jackson and Troy E. Nehls

The brace of Texas representatives person travel nether occurrence since they signed a missive attacking Walz for his misconstrued service.

According to elder Washington Post newsman Aaron Blake, Rep. Ronny Jackson signed that missive with the pursuing rank: Rear Admiral - U.S. Navy (Ret.). However, Jackson didn't discontinue — helium was demoted aft inspector wide reports astir his behaviour and drinking connected the job.

Rep. Troy Nehls “has repeatedly claimed to beryllium the recipient of 2 Bronze Star medals and a Combat Infantryman Badge from his clip successful the U.S. Army serving successful Iraq and Afghanistan,” according to CBS News.

“There is nary question that Nehls served overseas, engaged successful combat, and was awarded a Bronze Star for his duties there. But subject documents… amusement Nehls received 1 — not 2 — Bronze Star medals. And his Combat Infantryman Badge from Afghanistan was revoked from his work grounds successful 2023 due to the fact that Nehls served arsenic a civilian affairs officer, not arsenic an infantryman oregon Special Forces soldier.”

Richard Blumenthal

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said helium had "misspoken" astir his work successful the Vietnam War. His admittance came aft The New York Times obtained his Selective Service Record showing helium received 5 draught deferments earlier joining the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, according to a Snopes information check.

Bruce Faulkner Caputo

Rep. Bruce Caputo, R-N.Y., served the state's 23rd legislature territory from 1977 to 1978. During his run for the Senate and portion holding bureau arsenic a congressman, Caputo repeatedly described himself arsenic a Vietnam "draftee" and Army lieutenant.

He aboriginal admitted he'd "not really served successful the Army and had taken a civilian occupation successful the Defense Department to debar being drafted," The New York Times' integer archive reads.

''I surely ne'er intended to mislead anyone,'' Caputo said. ''Either they didn't perceive cautiously oregon I didn't explicit myself clearly. To the grade that I oregon idiosyncratic connected my unit was little than careful, we made a mistake.''

Notably, the publication "Who's Who successful American Politics" describes him arsenic a 2nd lieutenant for the Army, a information which the exertion of the book, Renee Lauterbach, told the Times could person lone travel from the person himself.

Mark Kirk

Former Rep. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., lied connected his online biography from 2010, claiming he'd received an grant from the Navy that helium hadn't.

“Upon a caller reappraisal of my records, I recovered that an grant listed successful my authoritative biography was misidentified,” Kirk wrote successful a blog post.

The Washington Post said Kirk's grant should person been attributed to his portion alternatively than him alone. A akin concern happened successful 2010 aft the legislator claimed helium served "in" Iraq, contempt ne'er being stationed abroad.