Rep. Jason Woolford (R-Howell) today released the following statement after questions were raised regarding the transparency and accountability of Kimberly Napoleon, a governor-appointed member of the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund Board, and discrepancies involving her military record and publicly claimed service history:

“The people of the State of Michigan deserve leaders who tell the truth, uphold the honor of public service, and are held to the highest standard, especially when it comes to our veterans. When those standards are violated, there must be accountability. Kimberly Napoleon’s continued presence on the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund Board damages the credibility of an institution meant to serve those who sacrificed for our country. She should resign immediately. If she refuses, swift action must be taken to remove her and restore the trust veterans and taxpayers expect from public service.

“Serious questions of transparency and accountability surrounding Kimberly Napoleon, a governor-appointed member of the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund Board, regarding her military record and publicly claimed service history. Reports indicate that claims regarding military honors, including the alleged receipt of a Bronze Star, do not align with publicly available military records. These are not harmless inconsistencies. They strike at the core of credibility and integrity required for someone entrusted with representing Michigan veterans.

“The Michigan Veterans Trust Fund is not a political platform. It exists for one purpose only: to serve veterans and their families in their most vulnerable moments. That mission depends entirely on trust. And when that trust is compromised by questionable or inflated claims of military service, it undermines every veteran who earned their honors the right way.

“As a United States Marine Corps veteran, I will not stay silent on this. I know exactly what military awards represent. A Bronze Star is not a talking point. It is not a decoration to be casually claimed or loosely interpreted. It is earned through discipline, sacrifice, and service under real and dangerous conditions. Any misrepresentation of that service is not a small mistake, it is a serious breach of honor.

“When someone misrepresents military service, it is not just a personal issue it is a direct insult to every veteran who earned their awards through blood, sweat, and sacrifice. It erodes public trust in the institutions meant to support those who served. And it diminishes the meaning of every legitimate honor earned in uniform.

“Kimberly Napoleon must immediately resign from the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund Board. Anything less sends the wrong message to veterans across this state. If she refuses to step down, then decisive action must be taken to remove her and restore credibility to the board without delay.

“This is not about politics. This is about truth. It is about accountability. And it is about defending the honor of those who served this country with integrity.

“Throughout my service to Livingston County, I have made it clear that I will stand up for what is right, even when it is uncomfortable or unpopular. That commitment has not changed.

“Leadership without accountability is meaningless. Our veterans deserve better than that.”