You mean like ADM Boorda? Levy lied, which makes it a "run of the mill" case of stolen honor.
Unlike Adm Borda I'm not seeing where Hizzoner was claiming awards he didn't earn. The mayor was a 20 year man. His service records show two tours in Vietnam with the second tour working with the actual Special Forces and the Vietnamese who gave him one of their green berets.
It appears the Green Beret claims began when he was working as a lifeguard, as someone above mentioned about probably trying to impress the chicks. My guess is by the time the politicians became interested in him the lie was too well known for him to back down. He had to know it would eventually catch up with him.
Remember the Star Trek movie "Wrath of Khan" when another Vulcan is shocked that Spock seemed to lie. Spock's defense was "I exaggerated". Seems to me that applies here.
He's in the wrong, if you think I argue differently you misunderstand me. But unlike the usual fake who never legitimately wore a uniform, if his record is as good as the story indicates then I'm not prepared to reach for the tar and feathers.