Montana Senate Candidate Faces Accusations Over Injury Story \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Montana Senate candidate Tim Sheehy is facing accusations from former Park Service ranger Kim Peach, who claims Sheehy lied about a bullet wound he said he sustained in Afghanistan. Peach alleges that Sheehy accidentally shot himself during a family trip in Montana in 2015. Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL, has dismissed the claim as a politically motivated attack, maintaining that his military record, which includes a Purple Heart, is central to his Senate campaign.
Accusations Against Tim Sheehy Emerge in Montana Senate Race – Quick Looks:
- Claim: Former park ranger Kim Peach says Sheehy shot himself in 2015, contradicting Sheehy’s story about a combat wound in Afghanistan.
- Sheehy’s response: Sheehy denies the allegations, calling it a smear campaign orchestrated by Democrats.
- Military record: Sheehy’s campaign emphasizes his Navy SEAL service, including a Purple Heart and Bronze Star, as key elements of his bid for office.
- Democratic response: Montana Democrats use the accusation to challenge Sheehy’s credibility ahead of the election.
Deep Look:
Peach, now retired, was the park ranger involved in the 2015 incident, and his statement adds fuel to an issue that has followed Sheehy’s campaign for months. Peach’s accusation comes just weeks before Montana’s Senate election, which pits Sheehy, a political newcomer, against three-term Democratic Senator Jon Tester. The outcome of this race is seen as critical to determining control of the Senate.
The Allegation:
According to Peach, Sheehy did not sustain the wound in Afghanistan, as the former Navy SEAL has claimed, but rather during an accidental discharge of a firearm at Logan Pass in Glacier National Park. Peach alleges that Sheehy’s gun fell from a vehicle in a parking lot and fired when it hit the ground, wounding Sheehy in the arm. Peach further claims that Sheehy admitted this to him during an interview at the hospital where Sheehy was treated for the wound.
“At the time, he was obviously embarrassed about it,” Peach told reporters. “He admitted to the gun going off in the park. The truth isn’t complicated; it’s when you start lying that things get complicated.”
Sheehy’s Denial:
Sheehy, a decorated veteran with a Purple Heart and Bronze Star from his military service, has strongly denied Peach’s claim. His campaign described the allegation as a baseless smear orchestrated by Democrats desperate to maintain control of the Senate. Sheehy’s spokesperson, Katie Martin, accused Peach of being a partisan hack trying to tarnish Sheehy’s record of service in some of the world’s most dangerous places.
“Anyone trying to take away from the fact that Tim Sheehy signed up for war as a young man and spent most of his 20s in combat zones is either a partisan hack or outright a disgusting person,” Martin said in a statement. Sheehy’s campaign has consistently highlighted his military career as a core aspect of his qualifications for office, with Sheehy himself frequently referencing the wounds he sustained during combat operations in Afghanistan.
The 2015 Incident:
The controversy first surfaced in April when The Washington Post published a story quoting a Glacier National Park ranger, later identified as Peach, who claimed that Sheehy had accidentally shot himself in 2015. Government records confirm that Sheehy was fined $525 for illegally discharging a firearm in the national park. In response to the report, Sheehy admitted he lied to the park ranger at the time, but insisted that the story had nothing to do with the wound he sustained in Afghanistan.
Sheehy explained that the incident at Glacier Park involved him falling and injuring his arm while hiking. He then fabricated the story about a gunshot wound to avoid discussing details of the injury, which he claimed may have been the result of friendly fire during his military service. According to Sheehy, he didn’t want to implicate fellow members of his SEAL unit and chose to deflect attention by telling the park ranger a fabricated story.
Political Fallout:
Peach’s decision to go public just weeks before the election adds to the pressure Sheehy is already facing as a first-time political candidate. The Montana Democratic Party seized on Peach’s remarks, using them to question Sheehy’s integrity and to accuse him of lying about his military service. Tester’s campaign, which has criticized Sheehy over the gunshot wound in recent weeks, declined to comment on the latest development.
While Peach is a Democrat who has posted anti-Trump messages on social media and openly supported Democratic causes, he denies any direct coordination with Tester’s campaign. Peach says he is speaking out now to ensure the truth is told.
“I couldn’t let him get away with something like that without the truth being told,” Peach said, adding that Sheehy’s version of events is not consistent with what happened during the 2015 incident.
Republican Response:
Republicans, on the other hand, are dismissing Peach’s allegations as politically motivated. Mike Berg, communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, suggested that the accusation is a sign that Democrats are growing desperate as the election nears. Berg accused Tester and his allies of attacking Sheehy because they fear Tester’s seat is at risk.
“It’s the last gasp of a career politician who sees his career about to end,” Berg said, referring to Tester.
Conclusion:
As absentee voting begins and Montana’s Senate race heats up, the accusations against Tim Sheehy over his military record add another layer of controversy to an already high-stakes contest. With his campaign centered on his military service, Sheehy is facing increased scrutiny, though he continues to deny the allegations and stand by his record. The accusations, while serious, may ultimately play into the broader political narrative of a fiercely contested Senate race that could have national implications.
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