Amid a swirl of controversy, former serviceman and current Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is facing allegations regarding his 2005 retirement from the National Guard.

Critics suggest Walz retired to avoid an impending deployment to Iraq, and a solider who served with the current vice-presidential hopeful has offered insights appearing to support those claims, as Breitbart reports.

In 2005, Walz, who was then serving in the National Guard, made the decision to retire. This move, however, came at a time when there was speculation about his unit's potential deployment to Iraq, something which has sparked controversy in the wake of his rise to the national spotlight.

Insider Testimony Sheds Light on Walz's Decision

Allan Bonnifield, a fellow serviceman and supporter of Walz, has been vocal in his defense. However, in multiple statements to the press, Bonnifield discussed Walz's advance awareness of the deployment, something supporters of the governor have contended he did not possess and therefore could not have played a role in his retirement decision.

During a 2018 interview with MPR News, Bonnifield revealed that Walz had a tough call to make between running for Congress and continuing his military service in the face of likely deployment.

News Nation also captured Bonnifield's assertion that accusations of Walz retiring to avoid deployment were baseless. He stressed that the deployment was considered inevitable within their unit.

Details from Private Conversations Come to Light

The Washington Post reported on a detailed conversation between Walz and Bonnifield. In this discussion, Walz expressed his concerns about where he could best serve -- either in politics or continuing his military duty as conflict loomed.

Walz's struggle with the decision was evident. "It was a very long conversation behind closed doors. He was trying to decide where he could do better for soldiers, for veterans, for the country. He weighed that for a long time," Bonnifield told the Washington Post.

This internal conflict was also highlighted in his March 2005 press statement. Walz stated, "As Command Sergeant Major I have a responsibility not only to ready my battalion for Iraq, but also to serve if called on. I am dedicated to serving my country to the best of my ability, whether that is in Washington DC or in Iraq."

Timing of Official and Unofficial Deployment Notices

Supporters of Walz point out that his unit received the official deployment orders only after his retirement, suggesting that his departure from the National Guard was not influenced by the impending deployment.

However, Joel Berry of the Babylon Bee noted that military units often receive advance warning orders well before the actual deployment orders are issued, adding complexity to the timeline of events.

The Minnesota National Guard stated that it did not have specific records on when advance warnings were given to Walz's unit, leaving some questions unanswered.

The Decision to Enter Politics

Walz filed to run for Congress on Jan. 5, 2005. By March, he publicly acknowledged the potential mobilization of his battalion. This decision coincided with his awareness of the unit's likely deployment.

According to Bonnifield's interviews, Walz was acutely aware of the deployment scenario. "He told us that he wanted to run for Congress, and he was in a tough spot, because he was pretty sure we were going to Iraq. We didn’t have orders. We didn’t have any kind of orders at all. At this time, he was pretty sure we were going," he explained to News Nation.

Further elaborating in his interview with MPR News, Bonnifield said, "He weighed that decision to run for Congress very, very heavy. He loved the military, he loved the Guard, he loved the soldiers that he worked with, and making that decision was very tough for him. Especially knowing that we were going on another deployment to Iraq. He didn’t take that decision lightly at all."

Conclusion: Weighing the Facts and the Timeline

The narrative surrounding Tim Walz's retirement from the National Guard is marked by conflicting timelines and testimonies.

While official orders for deployment were issued after his retirement, the presence of advance warnings paints a complex picture of Walz's decision-making process.

Supporters argue his political aspirations and commitment to service were genuine motives for his retirement, independent of the deployment. Meanwhile, critics remain skeptical, questioning the timing and transparency of his departure from military service.