Montana Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy is facing scrutiny over conflicting explanations regarding a gunshot wound he sustained, which has become a notable controversy in his campaign against Democratic Senator Jon Tester.
The issue came to light when Kim Peach, a former U.S. Park Service ranger, publicly stated that Sheehy accidentally shot himself during a family trip to Glacier National Park in 2015. This revelation contradicts Sheehy’s campaign biography, which claims he was wounded in combat.
Recently, Sheehy admitted to lying to Peach at the time, suggesting that he might have actually received the injury from a friendly-fire incident while serving abroad.
In a recent interview with Megyn Kelly, Sheehy claimed there are “not extensive medical records” from the emergency room visit after the incident, and he described experiencing internal bleeding when a bullet in his arm became dislodged after he fell while hiking.
He referred to the ongoing controversy as a distraction and expressed confusion about the narrative.
Sheehy has also provided contradictory accounts regarding the source of his injury. He suggested in the Kelly interview that he may have been shot by an Afghan ally during a deployment, noting the risks of operating alongside Afghan forces. However, in his memoir, he indicated that he was hit by a ricochet bullet from a fellow SEAL, whom he sought to protect from repercussions for the accidental shooting.
When pressed about the inconsistencies in his accounts, Sheehy stated, To be very clear, I don’t know where the bullet came from, highlighting the chaotic nature of combat situations.
Kim Peach, the ranger who initially reported the incident, maintains that he is “100 percent sure” Sheehy shot himself, recalling details such as unloading the gun and finding live rounds alongside the casing of a fired bullet.
Despite these allegations, some Republican supporters have dismissed Peach’s credibility, noting his history of supporting Democratic candidates.
Polling suggests Sheehy is leading Tester in what is expected to be a crucial Senate race, particularly given that Tester is seeking to maintain his seat in a state that Trump won decisively in the 2020 election.