A marquee GOP Senate recruit and ex-Navy SEAL admits he lied about how he received a gunshot wound

Tim Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL and businessman recruited by GOP leaders to run against Democratic Sen. Jon Tester in Montana.

Montana Senate candidate Tim Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL and a standout recruit for the GOP in the 2024 election cycle, disclosed to The Washington Post that he fabricated a story about being shot during an incident at Glacier National Park in 2015.

Sheehy initially informed a National Park Service ranger that his Colt .45 revolver accidentally discharged, injuring his right arm. However, he later admitted to the Post that he invented the narrative to protect himself and his fellow platoon members from scrutiny over a gunshot wound he claimed to have sustained in Afghanistan in 2012.

The citation issued by the ranger, based on Sheehy's account, detailed the gun discharge incident, resulting in a $525 fine for the offense. Sheehy clarified that the actual injury occurred during a hiking accident at Glacier National Park, not due to a gunshot.

Regarding his motive for the fabrication, Sheehy stated that he wanted to prevent his colleagues from facing investigations related to the gunshot incident, unsure if the wound was caused by friendly fire or enemy action.

While fabricating information to federal officers is illegal, the statute of limitations for this incident has expired. Sheehy's lawyer emphasized that his actions didn't obstruct any law enforcement inquiry since no crime occurred in the national park.

The revelation of this fabrication surfaced amidst other inconsistencies in Sheehy's accounts of being shot while serving in Afghanistan, as documented in his memoir "Mudslingers." Despite these discrepancies, his Bronze Star and Purple Heart awards remain undisputed.

Responding to the controversy, Sheehy's campaign emphasized his unwavering dedication to his Senate candidacy, dismissing the scrutiny as part of a misinformation campaign driven by political opponents.

Sheehy is regarded as a frontrunner in the GOP Senate primary and is seen as a formidable challenger to incumbent Democrat Jon Tester, who has maintained a resilient political position in conservative-leaning Montana. Recent polls show Tester leading but with varying margins, highlighting the competitive nature of the upcoming election.