What is it with these militant-loving, libertarian-screeching, liberty-defending, strict constitutionalists and their almost pathological need to lie about their military service? Several of the militants who took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge have been accused of stolen valor.
Graham Hunt, a (now former) Washington state representative, defied the FBI and local law enforcement to personally meet with Ammon Bundy at the armed militants at the wildlife refuge in January. He just couldn’t resist a trip to meet with his fellow constitutional lovers.
Now The Seattle Times confirms Graham Hunt has been forced to resign after flat-out lying about his military service:
The Seattle Times first reported last month that military records did not back up Hunt’s claims of serving as a “combat veteran” in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that he’d listed three medals on his official biography that the Air Reserve Personnel Center had no record of him receiving.
The Times also reported on a doctored photo posted on Hunt’s Facebook page in 2014 that falsely claimed to depict Hunt after a mortar attack in 2005.
“I surely have not forgotten that moment,” the post written in Hunt’s name said. In fact, the photo showed two U.S. soldiers in Iraq in 2003. Hunt has blamed the Facebook post on a campaign volunteer he has refused to name.
And that’s not all. Even his longtime legislative friends have come forward with other accusations. Josh Penner, who served on the Orting (WA) city council with Hunt, relayed a letter on his website saying Graham's lies were hurtful to him and others:
Although I’ve been told by Graham himself that he is a Marine. Although I’ve told others in his presence that he is a Marine. Although others have told me he served in the Marines.. Graham never served in the Marines. Graham is not a Marine.
Why am I focusing on this? Because his proof of service is noticeably absent in demonstrating any connection to being a Marine. And of course, after being cornered on it, he admits it. This hurts.
It hurts because it is through him telling me he served in the Marines that I believe him to be a Marine. It hurts because I have told countless people, in his presence, and elsewhere about him being a Marine. And ultimately it hurts because it re-orients the entirety of our relationship into a situation where he creates false messages and I (unknowingly) broadcast them as a lie.
He wasn’t the only former colleague to step forward with damning information:
Steven Nielson, a former state legislative candidate and the current head of the state Libertarian Party, says that’s contrary to what Hunt told him two years ago.
“I was stabbed in Afghanistan and I was shot in Iraq so before you start talking about your thoughts and feelings on veterans realize first of all that I’m sorry that you’ve posted a loved one but I’ve lost brothers,” Nielson says Hunt told him in a social-media message in June 2014.
Graham Hunt wasn’t only forced to resign from the Washington legislature, after the allegations surfaced, he had to resign as the Washington statewide chairman of Ted Cruz's presidential campaign.
Graham’s resignation means Washington voters will have to find a new champion for anti-equality, pro-life, pro-gun legislation.