In a surprising turn of events, the 1995 drunken driving arrest of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is receiving renewed scrutiny following his selection as Vice President Kamala Harris's running mate. Walz, a former teacher at the time of the incident, was arrested for reckless driving in Nebraska, long before he embarked on his political career.

According to court records, the arrest occurred on the night of September 23, 1995, near Chadron, Nebraska, when a state trooper observed Walz speeding at a staggering 96 mph in a 55-mph zone. The trooper also detected a strong smell of alcohol on Walz's breath, leading to the administration of field sobriety and preliminary breath tests, both of which he failed.

Subsequently, Walz underwent a blood test at a local hospital and was then booked into the Dawes County Jail. In his plea hearing on March 13, 1996, it was revealed that his blood alcohol level measured 0.128%, surpassing the legal limit of 0.10%. Walz's defense attorney argued for a fine, emphasizing his relatively low blood alcohol level and expressing Walz's remorse for the incident.

As a consequence of the arrest, Walz temporarily lost his license for 90 days and was fined $200. Despite the incident, Walz maintained his teaching position after reporting it to his principal. He even took it upon himself to educate his students about the consequences one may face for drinking and driving.

Although the arrest came to light when Walz ran for Congress in 2006, it did not significantly affect his campaign. However, it resurfaced during his gubernatorial bid in 2018 and once again gained attention when he was selected as Vice President Harris's running mate. Republicans and media outlets outside Minnesota have begun scrutinizing his past, particularly focusing on misleading information provided by his campaign staffers in 2006.

These misleading statements claimed that Walz's hearing loss from his service in the National Guard impaired his ability to understand the trooper during the arrest and the subsequent field sobriety test. However, court records do not mention any hearing issues, contradicting these claims. Moreover, it was recently reported that Walz underwent ear surgery in 2005 to address his hearing loss.

As of now, the Harris-Walz campaign has not commented on the misleading information provided by his former campaign staffers. With the arrest now receiving increased attention, Walz's past actions are once again thrust into the spotlight as he joins a national political campaign as a running mate.

Governor Walz's arrest serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of drinking and driving, even for individuals who have since made significant contributions to society. It remains to be seen how this renewed scrutiny will impact the Harris-Walz campaign moving forward.