Rep. Mike Waltz (R‑FL) knows all about being the target of “stolen valor” claims.
Unlike the charges being hurled at Democratic vice presidential pick Gov. Tim Walz (D‑MN), the politically driven accusations Waltz faced two years ago in his campaign for a House seat had no basis in reality since he was a legitimate Green Beret hero in Afghanistan.
While Walz has ducked questions about his military claims, Waltz wanted to hit back at his critics immediately.
“A local veteran was questioning very publicly my service, and it was stolen valor, and my first instinct was to punch the guy back as hard and publicly as I could,” Waltz said, recalling the attack during his initial bid for office in 2018 which made him the first Green Beret in Congress.
“My wife and others said, ‘No, this is a time for restraint,’” he told Secrets.
Still, …