GOP veteran lawmakers release a harsh 'stolen valor' letter to Walz, while the Trump campaign criticizes 'Freakish Timothy.'

The Trump campaign released a letter on Thursday from numerous veterans in Congress responding to Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz's claims of "stolen valor." Journalists were provided with the letter, which criticizes Walz amid ongoing scrutiny over his military retirement timing. In announcing the letter, the Trump campaign referred to Walz as "Freakish Timothy."

Walz, who enlisted in the Nebraska National Guard as a teenager and later served in Minnesota, fulfilled his 20-year service requirement in 2001. During his service, he was reportedly deployed to arctic Norway and later reenlisted after 9/11, serving in Italy as part of troop rotations to Afghanistan.

Criticism of Walz has intensified since he was named as Vice President Kamala Harris's running mate, with Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance and others questioning his decision to retire just months before his unit was deployed to Iraq in 2005.

The letter, spearheaded by retired Army Sergeant and Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), includes signatures from several veteran lawmakers, such as Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), and Rick Scott (R-Fla.), among others. The letter states that the vice presidency requires the trust of the American people and a solemn commitment to duty.

"As veterans who have served our nation, we feel compelled to address your egregious misrepresentations and urge you to come clean to the American people," the letter reads. It goes on to address allegations of stolen valor, stating, "You have stated you are 'damn proud' of your service... But there is no honor in lying about the nature of your service."

The letter condemns Walz for claiming to be a "retired command sergeant major" without completing the necessary requirements and for asserting he carried weapons "in war" despite not having served in combat. It also criticizes his abandonment of fellow service members just before deployment.

The letter concludes with a collective vote of no confidence: "Until you admit you lied to [America's veterans], there is no way you can be trusted to serve as vice president."

At a separate press conference, Mast referenced Steve Nikoui, whose son was killed during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, expressing frustration over President Biden's handling of the situation. Mast stated that Harris supported the Afghanistan withdrawal plan, which has drawn criticism for its execution.

Fox News Digital reached out to Vance for additional comments on the letter. William Martin, a spokesman for Vance, noted that veterans across the country are "furious with Tim Walz's lies about his military record," emphasizing that even Walz's superior officer and the chaplain of his regiment have condemned his actions regarding his unit's deployment to Iraq. He added that Walz has an opportunity to apologize for "years of stolen valor" during his scheduled speech at the DNC.