This year’s vice presidential candidates, Ohio Republican Sen. J.D. Vance and Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, share more than just political ambitions — both are military veterans. Vance served as a Marine, while Walz served in the Minnesota National Guard.
However, recent revelations regarding unauthorized access to their medical records by Veterans Affairs (VA) staff have brought their military backgrounds into the spotlight, raising concerns about privacy violations and igniting controversy over Walz’s service record.
According to an investigation by The Washington Post, at least a dozen VA employees are accused of improperly accessing the medical records of both Vance and Walz. The VA Inspector General, Michael Missal, reportedly provided evidence of these violations to federal prosecutors, indicating that the case could lead to legal action.
Among those implicated in the privacy breach are a physician and a contractor who reportedly spent an extended period reviewing the candidates’ medical files. These unauthorized accesses raise serious concerns about the security of veterans’ medical records and the professionalism of VA staff.
In response to the investigation, VA press secretary Terrence Hayes stressed the department’s commitment to protecting veterans’ privacy. “We take the privacy of the Veterans we serve very seriously and have strict policies in place to protect their records,” Hayes stated in an email. He added, “Any attempt to improperly access Veteran records by VA personnel is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
The improper access to Vance and Walz’s medical files has sparked outrage, especially as both men are in the midst of high-profile political campaigns. The violations not only reflect poorly on the VA but also highlight the vulnerabilities veterans face in safeguarding their personal medical information.
While the VA scandal casts a shadow over both vice presidential candidates, Gov. Tim Walz faces additional scrutiny concerning his military service. Questions have surfaced about Walz’s tenure in the Minnesota National Guard, including allegations that he misrepresented aspects of his service record.
One of the most vocal critics of Walz’s military background is retired Command Sergeant Major Tom Behrends, who previously served alongside Walz. Behrends, along with fellow retired Command Sergeant Major Paul Herr, co-authored a letter published in the West Central Tribune six years ago, accusing Walz of being dishonest about his retirement from the National Guard.
In their letter, Behrends and Herr claimed that Walz resigned from the Guard under the false pretense that he needed to retire in order to run for Congress.
“His excuse to other leaders was that he needed to retire in order to run for Congress,” the letter stated. “Which is false, according to a Department of Defense Directive, he could have run and requested permission from the Secretary of Defense before entering active duty; as many reservists have.”
The controversy surrounding Walz’s retirement decision is compounded by further accusations that he misrepresented his military rank. In an August interview with Breitbart News Daily on Sirius XM, Behrends asserted that Walz never attained the rank of command sergeant major, despite claims found in Walz’s official biography.
Behrends explained that Walz failed to complete the training necessary to achieve the rank. “He didn’t finish the school that [when] you get selected to be in an E-9 position, you sign a memorandum of understanding that you’re going to finish the academy, [the] United States Army Sergeant Majors Academy,” Behrends detailed during the interview.
Behrends further emphasized the importance of completing the required training, stating that those selected for an E-9 position must commit to staying in the military for at least two additional years after finishing the academy.
“The military’s got a lot of money invested in you, which is taxpayers’ money,” Behrends stressed. He went on to say that those who fail to meet these obligations are typically reduced in rank, and they lose the opportunity to advance in the future.
According to Behrends, this was the case with Walz, who was ultimately reduced to the rank of master sergeant.
The accusations against Walz have sparked a heated debate about his integrity and transparency regarding his military service. As he campaigns for the vice presidency, questions about his time in the Minnesota National Guard could become a focal point for his political opponents.
The allegations raise doubts about Walz’s commitment to his military obligations and his portrayal of his service record, which could have significant political repercussions.
At the same time, the broader issue of privacy violations at the VA continues to unfold. The unauthorized access to Vance and Walz’s medical records is a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding sensitive information, particularly for veterans who have served their country.
The VA’s failure to protect such information undermines the trust that veterans place in the system and calls into question the department’s ability to uphold its mission.
As the investigation into the VA scandal progresses and the allegations against Walz continue to generate headlines, both vice presidential candidates face intense scrutiny over their military service and privacy.
These issues are likely to remain central in the lead-up to the election, with voters weighing the integrity and transparency of each candidate as they make their choice at the ballot box.
1 Comment
VA is a corruptocracy run by a typical bunch of incompetent bureaucratic criminals. Unfortunately the front line staff are usually veterans who have to go along with the program or become unemployed.