In a CNN interview, former Minnesota National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Doug Julin has made allegations that question Governor Tim Walz's conduct during his time in the National Guard. Julin claims that Walz went around him to secure early retirement, breaking protocol and leaving the unit short-staffed before its deployment to Iraq.
Former Minnesota National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Doug Julin has made allegations that have cast doubt on Governor Tim Walz's conduct during his time in the National Guard. In a CNN interview, Julin claimed that Walz went around him to obtain early retirement, leaving the unit understaffed before it was deployed to Iraq.
Julin, who served as Walz's superior, stated that Walz was present at multiple meetings where deployment to Iraq was discussed months in advance. However, in June 2005, Julin learned that Walz had already submitted his retirement papers without notifying him. Julin asserts that Walz breached protocol by bypassing his immediate superior and securing permission from a higher-level officer.
Tim Walz's Military Career Under Fire: Former Superior Accuses Governor of Abandoning Unit
"Tim Walz knew the process and procedures, he went around me and above and beyond me… basically went in there to get somebody to back him… it was just a backdoor process," Julin told CNN anchor Laura Coates.
Walz's 24-year National Guard career has been under scrutiny since Vice President Kamala Harris announced him as her running mate. Critics have accused Walz of abandoning his unit before its deployment to Iraq. The Minnesota National Guard maintains that Walz's unit did not receive deployment orders until July, several months after he retired in May 2005.
Tim Walz's Military Career Under Fire: Former Superior Accuses Governor of Abandoning Unit
However, other former Minnesota National Guardsmen have corroborated Julin's claims. Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Herr (Ret.) told Fox News that Walz "subverted the chain of command" and "went around the chain of command" to bypass him.
During the CNN interview, Coates appeared to interrupt Julin's account of Walz's actions, citing audio quality issues and indicating that they were out of time. This abrupt termination has raised questions about potential bias in media coverage of the allegations against Walz.
Tim Walz's Military Career Under Fire: Former Superior Accuses Governor of Abandoning Unit
Billionaire and CEO Bill Ackman criticized Coates for ending the interview prematurely, accusing her of making excuses and attempting to suppress information that contradicted the preferred narrative. "If people question whether there is bias in media, you should watch this clip," Ackman stated.
The Harris campaign has dismissed Julin's claims, pointing to a quote from former National Guard member Joseph Eustice, who served under Walz in their battalion. Eustice said, "‘From what I know of the situation, they’re lying. He was as good as a solider as you’ll find… What I’m trying to do is defend someone who served his country."
CNN has not responded to a request for comment on Julin's allegations.
