Exchange of the Day

Georgia U.S. Senate candidate Herschel Walker (R) talked to Kristen Welker on NBC News about the police badge he flashed at the recent debate.

WALKER: That’s a badge that I was given by a police officer and I do have the badge I carry with me all the time. It’s a real badge. It’s not a fake badge. It is a real badge.

WELKER: Who gave you that badge?

WALKER: This badge is from um — this badge. I have badges from all over the — all over Georgia, even from Chatham County. I had to wait — wait — I had from Chatham County which is a county, which is a county, uh, which is a county from- *SHOWS BADGE* oh I have it upside down. Right, which is a county from where Senator Warnock is from. I have an honorary Sheriff badge for that county with limited rights —

WELKER: Where is this one from?

WALKER: This is from my hometown. This is from Johnson County from the sheriff from Johnson County, which is a legit badge. Everyone can make fun, but this badge give me the right- wait, let me finish. If anything happened in this county. I have the right to work with the police getting things done. People that don’t know that- I’ve been working with law enforcement for years. I do training program but they get to get credit for it. I do a program, a leadership program. I do health and wellness programs. I visit prisons so, everyone will make fun, but I’ve been — have my men and women in black — men and women in blue backs since I’ve been doing this.

WELKER: Does that have arresting authority or that is an honorary badge?

WALKER: It is an honorary badge — but they can call me whenever they want me and I have the authority to do things for them to work with them all day.

WELKER: The National Sheriffs Association said an honorary badge, quote, is for the trophy case. Why make the decision to flash it at the debate?

HERSCHEL WALKER: That is totally not true. You can call the guy that gave me the badge.