A lone protester paced the state Capitol parking lot Tuesday holding a U.S. Marine Corps flag and sign that read, “Prosecute Blumenthal Stolen Valor Act.”
The protester, Jim Bancroft of Windsor Locks, says he served in as a U.S. Marine from 1977 to 1981 and claims that he has defended Attorney General Richard Blumenthal in the past against accusations regarding his military service because during conversations, the two had Blumenthal had always said he served state-side as a reservist.
While the two had nothing in common politically, “I thought he was a decent guy” until he watched the video, Bancroft said.
After watching the video posted along with the New York Times article, Bancroft is calling for Blumenthal to be prosecuted under the Stolen Valor Act of 2005.
The video shows Blumenthal saying, “We have learned something important since the days that I served in Vietnam.”
Bancroft says Blumenthal “knowingly made a false statement. I have no sympathy for the guy.”
Bancroft, who was involved in the “Dump Dodd” campaign and has been involved in Tea Party gatherings across the state, said he doesn’t think there’s anything Blumenthal can say that will make this go away.
“He’s a liar,” Bancroft said.
Blumenthal is expected to hold a news conference at 2 p.m. to address the report, which his U.S. Senate campaign said was a “distortion” of his military service.