Maryland, My Maryland

 From the Balmer Sun, Gov. Wes Moore’s military record dispute intensifies as rival offers full release

A Republican challenger is escalating pressure on Maryland Gov. Wes Moore to release his full military record, turning a long-running question about transparency into a potential flashpoint in the 2026 governor’s race.

John Myrick, a Prince George’s County federal contracting consultant seeking the GOP nomination, told Spotlight on Maryland he will fully open his own military file to the public and is challenging Moore to do the same.

The move reframes an ongoing dispute over Moore’s lack of transparency into a direct political contrast. One Republican candidate is offering unrestricted access to his records, while the Democratic incumbent continues to withhold his records and has repeatedly refused to answer Spotlight’s questions about his military service.

“Maryland voters need to be informed about the candidates [who] are seeking offices at all levels,” Myrick said. “That’s the only way you can actually make sure you’re getting representation that actually meets your needs.”

Moore did not respond to Spotlight’s questions about whether he would release his records.

Questions about Moore’s military background have circulated for years, but have resurfaced in recent months as requests for his full record remain unresolved.

To date, 34 documents related to Moore’s military service have been obtained through Spotlight’s public records request filed with the Army.

The governor’s office has provided one additional document directly. But a broader request from Spotlight on Maryland — seeking full military, academic and athletic records — has been pending for months without resolution.

It's been pretty clear in the past that Moore has been less than open about his military career, at one point claiming a bronze star that was never actually awarded, and blaming it on confusion. 

Burnishing one accomplishments, and glossing over defects has long been a habit of politicians of all ilks (I dare say it probably goes back to ancient Egypt), but at some point it changes from mere shading of the truth to outright lying.