Herschel Walker, the Republican candidate for Senate in Georgia, defined why he flashed a badge throughout Friday’s debate with Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock in an unique interview with NBC Information’ Kristen Welker.
Walker brandished the badge after Warnock took intention at his previous erratic habits and his false claims he had labored in regulation enforcement, prompting a moderator to repeatedly ask Walker to place the badge away, citing debate guidelines barring the usage of props.
Requested within the interview with NBC Information about that second and whether or not the badge gave him arresting authority, Walker insisted it’s a “legit” badge given to him by regulation enforcement and stated he carries it with him on a regular basis.
“I’ve badges everywhere in the state of Georgia,” Walker stated, noting he additionally had an “honorary sheriff badge” from Chatham County, the place Warnock is from.
Walker produced a badge throughout the interview that he stated was from Johnson County, the place he grew up.
“If something occurred on this county, I’ve the correct to work with the police getting issues executed,” he stated. “Folks don’t know that I’ve been working with regulation enforcement for years,” Walker stated.
“However they will name me every time they need me, and I’ve the authority to do issues for them, to work with them on a factor,” Walker continued.
Requested why he flashed a badge throughout the debate regardless of the Nationwide Sheriffs’ Affiliation saying an honorary badge is “for the trophy case,” Walker stated that’s “not true.”
“I had a sheriff that gave me the badge — been there for years, I’ve been there for years — got here out and did a press convention with me, and stated Herschel been with us for years, he’d been working with us,” Walker stated.
“I’ll all the time have my women and men again the blue. That’s the explanation they assist me,” Walker continued. “I’ve extra extra sheriff than have supported Herschel Walker, extra sheriffs assist Herschel Walker in Georgia than any candidate operating as we speak.”
Walker then repeatedly denied having embellished his connection to regulation enforcement.
“I’m proper as a result of I’ve labored in regulation enforcement, and I’ve been working with regulation enforcement,” Walker stated. “I did it earlier than I made a decision to run for workplace. This had nothing to do with me operating for workplace. So when folks say that, they’re speaking.”
The sheriff of Johnson County confirmed to NBC Information that he had given Walker the honorary badge and stated he had no problem with Walker bringing it up throughout his political marketing campaign.
In his interview with NBC Information, Walker additionally continued to disclaim an allegation by an ex-partner, who’s the mom of certainly one of Walker’s kids, that he paid for her abortion in 2009. Walker acknowledged a $700 verify he gave to her, however denied her declare that he knew the verify was for an abortion.
“It’s a lie,” Walker, an anti-abortion Republican and former soccer star, advised NBC Information in an interview that aired Monday on “TODAY.” “Show that I did that. Simply to point out me issues like that does nothing for me.”
