(St. Paul, MN)- On Monday, Governor Walz commented on Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s claims of hesitation to send in the National Guard to Minneapolis on May 27 with this statement, “I don’t think the mayor knew what he was asking for…I think the mayor said, ‘I request the National Guard, whew, this is great. We’re going to have massively trained troops.’ No. You’re going to have 19-year-olds who are cooks.”

Senator Torrey Westrom (R-Elbow Lake) responded with the following:

“Governor Walz’s excuse for his lack of action during the riots would be laughable, if it wasn’t so degrading to the wonderful men and women who serve our country. To expect a city’s mayor, who has no experience whatsoever with the National Guard, to put in a request with full battle plans ready, is ridiculous. The governor was in the Guard for years and he couldn’t bring himself to offer suggestions or guidance as Minneapolis burned?

“When the National Guard was finally mobilized, they did exemplary work. High levels of professionalism and exceptional training are always their reputation, and they did it proud during those chaotic days. Governor Walz’s willingness to throw the Guard under the bus, despite their great work, mirrors his well-known comments about rural Minnesota just being a bunch of ‘rocks and cows.’ His statements are both revealing and pathetic.”