Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper called on Democratic vice-presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minn.) to clarify his military record amid Republican claims that Walz lied about the details of his service.

“I think some of the attacks are without merit,” Esper, who served under the Trump administration, said Friday evening on CNN. “Some, I think, need clarified by Governor Walz. He should speak to it. The fact that it’s been going on for a few days now in my view, means that he should just get out, speak to the issues.”

“Clarify where I think he’s probably misspoken or people would say misled and clarify things," he added in the interview, highlighted by Mediaite. "But get this off the table and get focus back on the bigger issues that are out there."

Walz, who served in the Minnesota National Guard for 24 years, retired months before his unit deployed to Iraq in 2006. He was running for Congress at the time.

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