U.S. Senate Candidate Herschel Walker has challenged claims again that the police badge he pulled out at Friday’s debate is real and that he has “worked with law enforcement for many years” including programs training, leadership and health.
After an online heat warning for the stuntman, where he was criticized for create a prop During the debate, the Georgia Republican sat down with NBC News’ Kristen Welker for an interview that aired during the Monday season on Today. In it, he said he had “honorary sheriff badges” for Chatham County, Johnson County and Cobb County with “limited rights.”
“It was a badge that I was given by a police officer, and I always carry it with me. It’s a real badge. It is not a fake badge. It’s a real badge,” Walker said in an interview in a transcript obtained by The Daily Beast.
Questions surrounding the former NFL star’s alleged work with law enforcement have hampered his Senate campaign, including a June article in Atlanta Journal-Constitution That said, there’s no solid evidence to back up Walker’s longtime claims that he worked with the FBI or the police.
During Sunday night’s debate, Walker declined to attend and was represented by a empty podiumSenator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) opponent said Walker was not telling the truth, using Friday night’s badge incident as an example of his lies.
“The other night, when I said, ‘You just pretend to be a cop,’ he gave a badge as if it were proof that he was really a cop,” Warnock said. want us to think he’s a senator. I think the people of Georgia are very wise and discerning, and they know that at the end of the day, I know who I work for: I work for them.”
During the NBC interview, Welker asked Walker, “Who gave you that badge?”
Walker replied, “This badge belongs to, um — this badge. I have badges from all over — all over Georgia, even from Chatham County. I had to wait — wait — I’m from Chatham County, which is a county, is a county, uh, a county from…”
At this point, Walker shows the badge again, but it is unfortunately upside down.
“Oh, I turned it upside down. Yep, it’s a county from where Sen. Warnock arrives. I have the honorary sheriff badge for that county with limited permissions. “
Welker pressed Walker to see where the badge he was holding was from.
“This is from my hometown,” Walker said.
“This is from Johnson County, from the sheriff of Johnson County, it’s a legit badge. Anyone can have fun, but this badge gives me the right… If anything happens in this county, I have the right to work with the police to get the job done. Those who don’t know it — I’ve worked with law enforcement for years. I do the training program, but they get credit for it. I do a program, a leadership program. I run health and wellness programs. I visit prisons so people make fun of it, but I’ve been — there have been men and women in black — men and women in blue since I did this. “
When asked if the badge would be given to any arresting authorities, Walker confirmed it was a “badge of honor”, but “they can call me whenever they want and I have the right to do what they want.” having them work with them all day.”
Welker then bluntly told Walker that “the National Association of Sheriffs says a badge of honor …” is for the title case “and asks, ‘why made the decision to include it’ into the debate? “
Walker replied: “That’s not true at all. You can call the person who gave me the badge… call the woman who gave me the badge and the same thing is, I tell you one thing, they’re having fun. They say I don’t work with the Cobb County police, right? Cobb County Sheriff’s Department. “
Walker appears to be referencing a Walker campaign spokesman’s statement to Journal-Constitution Walker was an honorary deputy in Cobb County, though the Cobb County Sheriff’s Department told the newspaper it had no records to back up the lawsuit.
“And this is how people do news media,” Walker continued. “And I have the sheriff gave me the badge and stayed there for many years, been there for many years and did a great job. press conference with me and said, ‘Herschel’s been with us for years, he’s worked with us.’ “
Walker insisted the media “didn’t listen to anything and wanted to try to find an excuse.”
He said: “No, I will always have my men and women in blue. That’s why they support me. I have more… sheriffs who have supported Herschel Walker in Georgia than any other candidate running for office today. “
