Plagiarism Scandal Surrounds Senate Candidate Tim Sheehy’s Book “Mudslingers”

Plagiarism Allegations Surround Senate Candidate Tim Sheehy’s Book

Tim Sheehy, a U.S. Senate candidate from Montana, often highlights his background as a businessman and pilot who founded an aerial firefighting company in Bozeman. This narrative is central to his campaign against incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Tester.

Sheehy’s journey includes a stint as a U.S. Navy SEAL and his authorship of a book on aerial firefighting titled “Mudslingers: A True Story of Aerial Firefighting.” The book, seen as a precursor to his political ambitions, was published in 2023 by Permuted Press and distributed by Simon and Schuster.

However, an investigation by the Daily Montanan revealed that the book contains at least four instances of plagiarism. These passages were sourced but not credited, raising questions about the integrity of Sheehy’s work.

The Sheehy campaign and Permuted Press were contacted for comments but did not respond.

Scrutiny Over Sheehy’s Past

This is not the first time Sheehy’s past has been questioned. His claims about a gunshot wound in Glacier National Park, parachute training over Glacier, and his business dealings have all faced scrutiny. Additionally, Sheehy has remained silent on recordings of him making disparaging comments about Native Americans, despite calls for an apology from Montana’s tribal leaders.

Financial Controversies

The book’s financial dealings have also been questioned. Although it promises to donate proceeds to support aerial firefighters, reports suggest the money goes to a lobbying group Sheehy founded, which benefits his company, Bridger Aerospace.

Problems Inside the Book

“Mudslingers” combines the history and practice of aerial firefighting with Sheehy’s personal experiences. However, it lacks footnotes, endnotes, and detailed citations, making it difficult to track sources.

Examples of potential plagiarism include:

• Page 33: A definition of “smokejumper” taken almost verbatim from Wikipedia.
• Page 208: Four paragraphs nearly identical to content from “Wildfire Today.”
• Page 237: Four paragraphs closely mirroring an article from “The Backseat Pilot.”
• Page 289: A passage resembling an article from the San Marino Tribune.

Expert Opinions

Paul Pope, an associate professor of political science at Montana State University-Billings, commented on the gravity of plagiarism. “It’s ridiculously easy. Technology has made plagiarism so possible,” he said. In academic settings, such actions could result in severe penalties, including failing grades or expulsion.

Sheehy’s case mirrors a past incident involving former U.S. Senator John Walsh, who dropped his re-election bid after a plagiarism scandal.

The Impact on Sheehy’s Campaign

Despite the allegations, recent polls show Sheehy leading over Tester. However, the impact of the plagiarism accusations and other controversies on his campaign remains uncertain.

Pope suggested that in today’s polarized political climate, negative news might not significantly affect a candidate’s support base. “Plagiarism is no different than lying to the public. It’s the same thing,” he said.

The Sheehy campaign’s strategy appears to involve staying silent on these issues, hoping they will fade from public attention. Whether this approach will succeed is yet to be seen.

This story was originally published by the Daily Montanan