SPOKANE, Wash. – Republican gubernatorial candidate Semi Bird was investigated by the Washington State Republican Party Executive Board for allegedly stealing valor during his service in the military.
Bird made headlines when he secured the Washington GOP’s endorsement over opponent Dave Reichert at the state party’s convention in Spokane in April despite allegations that he concealed a 1993 misdemeanor conviction from convention organizers.
In early June, conservative commentator Jason Rantz questioned Bird’s military commendations, citing anonymous sources who claimed that the Republican candidate misrepresented his service record. Bird vehemently denied those claims.
Bird claimed that the Washington GOP’s investigation into him was unfounded via social media on Friday.
“Rather than uniting with their own endorsed candidate who made history by receiving an overwhelming 72% supermajority endorsement vote of delegates at their convention…members of the WSRP Executive Board and party Chairman chose to…initiate an investigation into Bird,” Bird’s campaign said.
Washington GOP chair Representative Jim Walsh offered context for the investigation in a statement posted to the party’s website.
“The 2009 Reprimand memo, in which Gen. Hector Pagan stated in part that Bird ‘wore awards and badges that you had not earned,’ has generated great concern. In his written response to that memo, Bird himself acknowledged: ‘My actions constitute nothing less than a fraud against the United States Army.’…As WAGOP Chairman, I was deeply troubled to read those words,” Walsh said.
Walsh went on to say that there is no way for the state party to rescind its endorsement of Bird and that voters will ultimately decide whether the candidate advances to the governor’s office.
The Spokane County Republican Central Committee affirmed its support of Bird in a statement from Vice Chair Lyle Dach.
“At this point the SCRCC still remains committed to, and fully supports Misipati Semi Bird as our Washington State Republican Party and Spokane County endorsed gubernatorial candidate. We feel Semi Bird’s well laid out plan, policies, and leadership, offers the best solutions when leading Washington State forward as our next governor,” Dach said.
