Walz’s Former Congressional Campaign Falsely Denied He Drove Drunk At The Time Of 1990’s DUI Arrest

The 2006 congressional campaign of Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the newly picked vice presidential candidate for Democratic presumptive nominee Kamala Harris, falsely denied he was drunk on the evening of his September 23, 1995, arrest in Nebraska, according to a 2006 report by The Post Bulletin.

The then-31-year-old Walz drove 96 miles-per-hour in a 55 mph speed zone in his silver Mazda while under the influence of alcohol, according to the New York Post. The now-Democratic governor of Minnesota reportedly underwent a breath test which calculated his blood-alcohol level at 0.128%, well over the legal limit of 0.08%.

Authorities arrested Walz and brought him to Dawes County Jail, the Post reported. He later pleaded guilty to reckless driving charges during a March 1996 court hearing where he admitted to disregarding “the safety of persons or property,” according to a transcript of the court hearing obtained by Alpha News.

Walz’s 2006 congressional campaign denied the then-candidate was drunk at the time of his arrest, according to a 2006 report from The Post Bulletin. Walz’s then campaign manager, Kerry Greeley, cited Walz’s deafness caused by his time as an artillerist in the Army National Guard for the misunderstanding between himself and the officer.

“He couldn’t understand what the officer was saying to him,” Greeley said.

Greeley further claimed the judge scolded the officer for not realizing Walz was deaf, the Post Bulletin reported. The transcript of the court hearing does not back up Greeley’s claims.