'Stolen valor' bill: Arizona lawmaker wants harsher penalties for lying about military service

A state lawmaker and Army veteran wants to create harsher penalties for people who lie about their military experience.

In 2024, Republican Rep. Walter Blackman’s primary opponent Steve Slaton was accused of “stolen valor,” or lying about his military background.

Slaton claims to be a Vietnam combat veteran, but records he provided about his service did not match the records veteran groups got from the National Archives.

Slaton’s candidacy drew a divide in the Republican party. He refused to speak about the inconsistencies, and the Navajo County Republican Committee asked him to withdraw from the race. GOP candidate Sen. Wendy Rogers stood by him.

Slaton is a Show Low resident who runs the Trumped Store, which sells pro-Donald Trump merchandise. It was a campaign center in 2016.

Slaton ended up losing to Blackman by about 9,000 votes. Each district is represented by two lawmakers in the state House, so Rep. David Marshall was also elected to represent Legislative District 7.

Now, Blackman has filed a bill which would make stolen valor a felony under state law.

He did not respond to requests for comment about the bill.

It’s already illegal under federal law, but Blackman’s bill would increase the penalty and ban anyone guilty of stolen valor from serving in public office.