DUI, tampons in boys' bathrooms: 4 controversies to know involving Tim Walz
Arrested for driving under the influence
Court documents obtained by the Minnesota-based conservative publication Alpha News provide details about Walz's 1995 arrest for driving under the influence in Dawes County, Nebraska, while he was a 31-year-old teacher and football coach.
A state trooper's report about the incident reveals that Walz was pulled over for driving at 96 miles per hour, nearly double the speed limit of 55 miles per hour.
The officer described "a strong odor of alcoholic beverage" coming from Walz's breath and noted how he failed both a breathalyzer test and a field sobriety test, which resulted in him going to the hospital for a blood test followed by a booking at the Dawes County Jail.
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A transcript of the court proceedings shows that Walz was initially charged with speeding and driving while intoxicated, a more serious charge, and had a blood alcohol level of .128. The legal limit in Nebraska at the time was .10
As part of a plea agreement, the only charge he faced and pled guilty to was reckless driving. Walz had to pay a $200 fine and expressed remorse for his actions.
Walz's counsel told the judge that while Walz was ready to surrender his teaching position at Alliance High School and resign from all of his extracurricular duties, the principal of the school he taught at the time talked Walz out of resigning. He told the judge that Walz ended up "ministering" to students after his arrest, impressing upon them "the bad things that can happen to you if you drink and drive and get caught for drinking and driving."
A booking photo from the arrest has circulated online as it emerged he was going to be selected as Harris' running mate.
The issue has surfaced a few times throughout Walz's political career. In 2006, Walz's congressional campaign insisted that he was not drunk and claimed the officer had a "misunderstanding" on "Walz's deafness" caused by his time in the military.
"Walz was hard of hearing, a result of his years as an artillery soldier in the Army National Guard, and had trouble hearing the trooper," Meredith Salsbery, communications director for the Walz campaign, told the NuJournal at the time, according to Fox News.
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com
