But when Walker was challenged for his graduation scam in an interview last week with FOX 5 Atlanta host Russ Spencer, Walker said he never said he graduated from the University of Georgia.
Spencer told Walker that he had a “phenomenal life story,” but that “in some cases you exaggerated that story. You said you graduated from UGA …”
Walker said, “I never said that. They say that. And I said – you have to remember that. I never, ever said that statement. Not even once. I said I studied criminal justice at UGA. “
Facts one: Walker’s assertion that he “never” and “never” said he graduated from the University of Georgia is completely untrue. Walker told the camera at least twice that he had finished school. Walker’s promotional materials also contain the false claim that he has graduated.
When CNN asked for comment on Tuesday, Walker’s campaign did not explain or correct his false claim that he never said he had a college degree. Spokesman Mallory Blount said in an email instead: “Imagine a world in which the media cares so much about resolving inflation, gas prices and the shortage of baby adapters as it does about rebutting every word Herschel has ever said.
In December, Walker told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he had returned to Athens, Georgia, to complete his degree after playing for the New Jersey Generals of the now-defunct United States Football League in the 1980s, “but life and football intervened the way. “
But contrary to Walker’s statement last week in an interview with FOX 5 Atlanta, he was not always outspoken about it. The CNN KFile team found a number of cases in which Walker and his promotional materials incorrectly claimed to have won the degree:
Walker in a motivational speech in 2017: “And suddenly I started going to the library, picking up books, standing in front of the mirror and reading. So Herschel, who all the children said was behind, became a farewell speech to his class. He graduated from the University of Georgia in the top 1% of his class. “Walker in a radio interview in 2017:” And people say, “Herschel, you played football.” But I said, “Guys, I was also a farewell speech to my class. I was also in the top 1% of my college graduation class. ” promoting the book: “After his first professional season, he completed his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at the University of Georgia.”
A 1986 Dallas Morning News article on Walker’s football career stated that Walker had completed his degree in criminal justice and included this quote from Walker: “Getting a degree is one of the ways you can take become a man of the FBI. Of course, my life is not going in that direction at the moment, but I think that the work of the police, especially the FBI, would have been my choice if I had not been a professional footballer. ”
Walker also refused to correct a variety of people – including interviewers and a congressman who introduced him to a 2021 House of Representatives subcommittee hearing – who mistakenly said in his presence that he had won his college degree. There is no evidence that Walker was forgiven in high school either.
It is not the only deceptive statement in the interview
Walker’s false denial of his allegations that he graduated from college was not the only deceptive moment in his interview with FOX 5 Atlanta last week.
Walker also challenged Spencer’s exact statement that former President Donald Trump, who backed Walker’s candidacy, called the 2020 election “stolen.”
Walker said, “Well, I don’t think – I think – I think reporters say that. I don’t know if President Trump said that. Because he never told me that. ” When Spencer rightly said that Trump said it “over and over again,” Walker said, “No, no, no, no. He never – I’ve never heard President Trump say that.”
Trump has called the 2020 election “stolen” many times – and uses almost identical language in Walker’s presence. At a March rally in Georgia attended by Walker, Trump falsely said Democrat Stacey Abrams, the current and former gubernatorial candidate, “brazenly stole the Georgia election” in 2020 from under Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. And at a September rally in Georgia, which Walker also attended, Trump falsely said that 2020 was “the most corrupt election in the history of our country” and “rigged election” and spoke of tens of thousands of people who allegedly had their voices “stolen.” The Republican Accountability Project, a conservative group that criticizes Trump and Walker, drew attention to Walker’s statement in a tweet Tuesday.
Walker successfully won the Republican election Tuesday for the nomination. He is now facing incumbent Democrat Senator Rafael Warnock in the November by-elections.
Em Steck contributed to this article.
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