In a heated exchange on CNN, Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance accused Minnesota Governor Tim Walz of lying about his military retirement. Vance challenged host Dana Bash’s timeline of events, insisting Walz knew about a potential Iraq deployment before leaving the National Guard.

“He knew he was going to Iraq, he decided to quit, to retire, whatever word you want to use,” Vance stated. He referenced a recent CNN interview with one of Walz’s former commanders, who said the unit knew about the Iraq deployment in fall 2004.

This conflicts with Walz’s claim that he was unaware of the deployment when deciding to retire. Vance emphasized he wasn’t criticizing Walz’s service, but his honesty about the retirement.

The controversy stems from Walz’s 2005 congressional campaign. A press release from that time mentioned a possible deployment for Walz’s unit, yet he retired shortly after filing to run for office.

Vance’s pushback highlights ongoing questions about Walz’s military record. Previous reports have suggested Walz may have overstated his rank at retirement, claiming to be a command sergeant major when records show he was a master sergeant.

This exchange underscores the intense scrutiny facing candidates’ backgrounds in the lead-up to 2024. It also reflects growing conservative frustration with perceived media bias in covering such controversies.

As the election approaches, expect more debates over candidates’ pasts and how media outlets present this information to the public.