U.S. Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), left, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) | House.gov / Minnesota.gov
U.S. Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), left, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) | House.gov / Minnesota.gov
U.S. Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) said Minnesota Governor Tim Walz providing misleading comments about his time spent in the Armed Force to the American people is "shameful."
"It’s shameful to try and deceive the American people by intentionally misrepresenting one’s service to this nation," Crane told Yavapai News. "Serving in our Armed Forces in any capacity is admirable, but lying and saying you carried weapons of war in war when you didn’t is remarkably dishonorable and indicative of someone lacking in the character necessary to lead as Vice President."
On August 6, Kamala Harris' campaign shared a video of Walz from 2018 where he discussed voting for gun control laws and requirements like background checks. During his comments, Walz mentioned his "25 years in the Army" and said "we can make sure those weapons of war, that I carried in war, are only carried in war."
Walz served in the military for 24 years across different units and positions in the Army National Guard. He was deployed to Italy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2003, which was not an active war zone. Walz retired from the Guard in 2005 before his unit was deployed to Iraq. He ran a campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives, which resulted in him being elected to represent Minnesota in 2006.
He served a total of six terms in the U.S. House, representing Minnesota, before he was elected to serve as the state's Governor in 2018. He was re-elected as Governor in 2022. Walz was named as the Democratic nominee for Vice President alongside current Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming 2024 Presidential election.
Crane joined the U.S. Navy in 2001, just weeks after the 9/11 attacks. He was in the Navy for 13 years, serving in five wartime deployments, including three as a Navy SEAL. After leaving the military he and his wife started a company that made bottle openers from shell casings, which grew in success and was sold in 2022.
Crane is currently serving in the U.S. Congress, representing Arizona’s 2nd district. He replaced previous U.S Congress member Tom O'Halleran in 2023. Crane was born in Tucson, Arizona in 1980. He currently lives in Oro Valley with his wife and two daughters.
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