A progressive veterans’ group is criticizing Tim Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL officer and Republican candidate for the Montana Senate seat, over allegations that he misrepresented aspects of his military service.
Sheehy, who served from 2008 to 2014 and received the Bronze Star with Valor and the Purple Heart, claimed he sustained a gunshot wound during a 2012 firefight, potentially from friendly fire.
However, scrutiny arose when the Washington Post reported that he later admitted to accidentally shooting himself in a national park, fabricating the firefight story to protect himself and his platoon from investigation.
A former SEAL colleague of Sheehy asserted that he never mentioned a gunshot wound during their deployment, raising doubts about Sheehy’s claims.
Additionally, park ranger Kim Peach recounted that Sheehy told him he had accidentally shot himself and even provided Peach with the revolver.
Travis Tazelaar, political director at the veteran organization VoteVets, condemned Sheehy, stating that the inconsistencies in his military service narrative raise serious concerns. Tazelaar emphasized the need for honesty in representation and criticized Sheehy for alleged fabrications about his background.