Harris VP Pick Hammered Over DUI Lies

CNN’s Michael Smerconish stated on Friday that the “lie” by presumptive Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz regarding his DUI arrest is “indefensible.”

According to a CNN report on Thursday, the Walz campaign in 2006 “repeatedly made false statements,” denying that Walz had been drinking the night he was arrested in 1995 for driving 96 mph in a 55-mph zone in Nebraska, based on court records.

Smerconish explained to CNN host Kasie Hunt that Walz’s DUI incident is a more significant issue than his misrepresentation of his military service.

Here’s Tim Waltz mug shot, from 1995, when he was arrested for DUI, going 96mph in a 55mph zone.

Endangering the lives of the innocent, just as he would as a VP! pic.twitter.com/kzilMMJtrJ

— 🇺🇸ProudArmyBrat (@leslibless) August 6, 2024

“I thought the DUI issue was a really significant and serious issue. I know that Republicans have spent a lot of time talking about the alleged stolen valor,” Smerconish said. “My own opinion, for what it’s worth, having studied the facts, is that there’s no there-there. Walz spoke sloppily, should not have represented a role that he had as having been a permanent role when it wasn’t. But the DUI story is indefensible. Kasie, you and I know a thing or two about congressional campaigns. They’re very small, they’re very tight. There’s usually like a campaign manager and a paid spokesperson, and that’s it, so the idea that this came from his spokesperson and it didn’t come from him? I don’t buy it.”

Concerns around Tim Walz' 1995 DUI arrest are bigger than 'stolen valor' allegations, CNN host says.

Walz congressional campaign staff previously told reporters in 2006 he was 'not drunk' but suffering from 'deafness' 🥴

CNN host Michael Smerconish said that concerns around the… https://t.co/h2ogOZAGwF pic.twitter.com/JlUBaC3MFl

— 1776 (@TheWakeninq) August 16, 2024

Smerconish remarked that it is a “real issue” that Walz attempted to attribute his failed sobriety test to hearing loss resulting from his National Guard service.

According to CNN, Walz’s blood alcohol level was recorded at 0.128, well above the state’s legal limit of 0.1 at the time, when he underwent a blood test after being transported to a hospital by a state trooper.

“In the end, it’s gonna be about the top of the ticket. But to me, the DUI is bigger than the stolen valor allegation. Not because of the drinking, but because of the lie,” Smerconish added.

Smerconish insisted that Vice President Harris’ campaign must tackle the issue “full on.”

“Full on, and it makes me wonder whether in the vetting process — maybe this is as a result of the expedited nature of her ascendancy as the candidate — but it makes me wonder how much they really knew about it. I’m sure they knew of the DWI, but it makes me wonder whether they were aware of all the underlying facts,” he responded when asked what the Harris campaign should do.