In newly unearthed court documents, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s 1995 arrest for driving under the influence in Dawes County, Nebraska, has come to light. At the time, Walz was a 31-year-old teacher and football coach.
According to the documents obtained by Alpha News, a conservative publication based in Minnesota, Walz was stopped by a state trooper for driving 96 miles per hour in a 55-mile-per-hour zone. The trooper reported detecting “a strong odor of alcoholic beverage” on Walz’s breath. Walz subsequently failed both a breathalyzer and a field sobriety test, leading to his arrest and transportation to the hospital for a blood test. He was later booked at the Dawes County Jail.
Initially, Walz faced charges of speeding and driving while intoxicated, the latter being a more serious offense. His blood alcohol level was recorded at .128, exceeding Nebraska’s legal limit at the time of .10. However, as part of a plea deal, Walz pleaded guilty only to reckless driving, for which he paid a $200 fine. In court, Walz expressed deep remorse for his actions.
During the proceedings, Walz’s attorney disclosed that his client was prepared to resign from his teaching position at Alliance High School and relinquish all extracurricular responsibilities. However, the school’s principal persuaded him to stay. Walz reportedly used his experience as a cautionary tale for his students, emphasizing the dangers of drinking and driving.
A mugshot from the arrest has resurfaced online, particularly as speculation mounted about Walz potentially being selected as Kamala Harris’ running mate during her vice-presidential campaign.
This incident has occasionally reappeared throughout Walz’s political career. In 2006, during his congressional campaign, his team asserted that Walz had not been intoxicated, attributing the incident to a “misunderstanding” related to Walz’s hearing impairment, which stemmed from his service in the Army National Guard as an artillery soldier.
“Walz was hard of hearing due to his military service, and had difficulty hearing the trooper,” Meredith Salsbery, the communications director for Walz’s campaign.
