In a surprising revelation, an old document has emerged that contradicts Maryland Governor Wes Moore's previous denials of claiming to have been awarded a Bronze Star. The controversy surrounding this issue has haunted Moore since his 2022 campaign for governor, and it has resurfaced amidst his rising national profile. The document obtained by The New York Times through a Freedom of Information Act request reveals that Moore stated on an application for a White House fellowship in 2006 that he had received the prestigious Bronze Star Medal for his work in the 82nd Airborne Division in Afghanistan.

Despite Moore's insistence that he had never told anyone he received a Bronze Star, records indicate that he included the commendation on his application. However, at the time of submission, he had not actually been awarded the Bronze Star or the Combat Action Badge. While the Army has confirmed that he received the Combat Action Badge later that year, there is no evidence to support the claim that Moore ever received the Bronze Star.

Throughout his political career, the issue of the Bronze Star has been a contentious one for Moore. Interviewers such as Gwen Ifill and Stephen Colbert mistakenly introduced him as a recipient of the award in past television appearances. However, Moore and his team failed to correct them, further fueling the debate over his claims. Remarkably, Moore's national profile continues to rise as he was part of Vice President Kamala Harris's initial selection of potential running mates and delivered a well-received speech at his party's convention.

The revelation of the old document comes amid ongoing controversies surrounding politicians' claims of military service accolades, with Republican accusations against Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota for exaggerating his military record. The vice president's campaign has sent Moore, now the state's Democratic governor, to defend Walz on television.

In an interview, Moore acknowledged that his previous claim of receiving the Bronze Star was an "honest mistake" and expressed remorse for not correcting the interviewers who introduced him as a recipient of the award. He cited the advice of his commanding officer, Lieutenant General Michael R. Fenzel, who assisted in crafting his White House application and expressed belief in Moore's eligibility for the Bronze Star.

General Fenzel, currently serving as the United States security coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, confirmed that he had approved the inclusion of the Bronze Star on Moore's application. He believed at the time that the award would be processed by the start of Moore's fellowship. The general now plans to resubmit the paperwork to ensure Moore can be officially awarded the Bronze Star.

The controversy surrounding Moore's claims has followed him throughout his career, with video footage of the interviews where he was introduced as a Bronze Star recipient by Gwen Ifill and Stephen Colbert being quietly circulated during his 2022 campaign. While Moore maintained his consistency on discussing his military service, questions persisted regarding why these media personalities were under the impression that he had a Bronze Star.

As the public scrutiny intensifies, Moore stands by the entirety of his service and remains proud of it. His spokesperson at the time, Brian Adam Jones, reiterated that Moore has never claimed to have a Bronze Star during his numerous interviews and speeches about his military service.

This latest development adds another layer of complexity to Moore's political journey, as he confronts the consequences of an old document contradicting his denials and grapples with the implications it may have for his reputation in the public eye.