Rick Strandlof claims he cannot remember many events over the past three years due to schizophrenia and bipolar mental disorders.

NOTE from Larry Scott, VA Watchdog dot Org ... Two previous stories about Rick Strandlof can be found here.  Any thoughts on this?  Do you believe this guy?  Or, is he using mental illness as a cop-out?  Comments accepted below ...

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Fake vet admits he didn't tell truth, blames mental illness

written by: Jace Larson
additional reporting by: Chris Vanderveen

EL PASO COUNTY - The man who successfully duped politicians, veterans and advocate groups into believing he served three tours in Iraq admits he did not always tell the truth.

"I admit that not everything I said was as factual as I wish it had been," said Rick Strandlof in an exclusive interview with 9Wants to Know.

"Some assertions made in public were not true," he said.

Strandlof, who founded Colorado Veterans Alliance in 2007 and also goes by the name Rick Duncan, sits in the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center on a misdemeanor traffic charge.

"I just want to say that I'm sorry I hurt you. I know some people will say that's not enough," Strandlof said.

"People are alleging that some of the information on the [Colorado Veterans Alliance's] Web site was not true, some of the background info was not true and some assertions made in public were not true," Strandlof said. "I guess it depends on how true you want them to be."

"When I talked with people about my passion about vets' issues, I believed that was the truth," he said.

Strandlof claims he cannot remember many events over the past three years due to schizophrenia and bipolar mental disorders. 9NEWS could not independently confirm the diagnosis but found court documents indicating a 2005 "unlawful taking of a motor vehicle" charge from Nevada was referred to mental health court. The court file is sealed.

Strandlof also would not say whether he served time in the military, though FBI agents investigating reports of criminal wrongdoing confirm he was never a soldier or Marine.

"I don't want to comment on that. I think it would back [my legal team] into a corner if [court] proceedings happen," Strandlof said.

Strandlof, as head of Colorado Veterans Alliance, actively pursued the limelight on many veterans' issues. He campaigned for homeless veterans in Colorado Springs. He made appearances at anti-war rallies. He campaigned in television ads against Bob Schaffer who lost a bid for the U.S. Senate in 2008.

"I think that came about as being caught up in the moment," he said. "I believed that perhaps if I believe, then other people can too."

"The organization provided advice to several congressional campaigns. The information we did provide was based on sound research and sound policy," said Strandlof.

He says he has not received any money from politicians.

"It was mostly self-funded," Strandlof said. He says he sought private donations but couldn't give an amount.

"I don't know," Strandlof said. He guesses the amount was less than $1,000 and claims he put more of his own money into Colorado Veterans Alliance than anyone else.

He said he believed the organization he led helped veterans in a positive way.

"I do believe we did do good. I think we connected people with resources that they didn't know existed. We advocated the inaction of policies that do people a lot of good," Strandlof said.

He says he created his story after reading real and fictional accounts of soldiers' experiences.

"There are many works of fiction that based upon profiles and combinations of characters that are often used in movies and on television and on print," he said.

Strandlof says he's sorry, not for any alleged lies, but because he feels like he hasn't done enough to help veterans.

He says he hopes his arrest doesn't detract from veterans' issues.

"I believe that people who defended a nation's ideals should have ideal treatment from a nation," he said.

Strandlof has not been charged with any crimes related to allegations he lied about military service. The FBI confirmed to 9Wants to Know that an investigation into those allegations is ongoing.

Several politicians are speaking out, including those who once praised Strandlof.

A spokesperson for Rep. Jared Polis' (D-Colorado) office told 9NEWS in May, "[Strandlof] was never a member of my staff or paid by my campaign, but represented the Colorado Veterans Alliance which endorsed several campaigns, including my own. His fraud is a slap in the face to veterans everywhere."

Sen. Mark Udall's (D-Colorado) office had a similar response, even though Udall's campaign wasn't directly responsible for the anti-Schaffer ad in which Strandlof appeared.

The state Republican Party chairman said he was upset with the news.

"Those are shameless lies that were told in those TV ads and we now know the lies were as credible as their fake veterans that they trotted out. I think they owe the people of Colorado an apology," Dick Wadhams said.

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TOPICS: veterans, veterans' benefits, VA, Department of Veterans' Affairs, Rick Strandlof, phony veteran, wannabe