Right wing’s reaction to Tim Sheehy’s bullet wound story

April 12, 2024

Article Summary –

The Washington Post reported that Tim Sheehy, Republican U.S. Senate candidate and former Navy SEAL, lied about the origin of a combat injury, and Sheehy’s campaign responded by attacking the publication and invoking his veteran status. Sheehy’s campaign published emails from Post reporters to illustrate the focus of their reporting on his military service record. The Post’s disclosures include Sheehy’s inconsistent accounts of a gunshot wound, discrepancies between public statements and his 2023 book “Mudslingers,” and his use of his military service in his campaign, which his campaign says is an attempt to discredit his service.

The Dispute over Tim Sheehy’s Bullet Wound Origin and Combat Injury History

Republican U.S. Senate candidate and ex-Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy has been facing scrutiny for his conflicting accounts of a bullet wound. Despite the Washington Post unearthing inconsistencies in Sheehy’s narratives, his supporters and fellow conservatives remain unfazed.

Following the revelation, Sheehy retaliated against the Washington Post, alleging biased reporting due to his veteran status. This sentiment echoed throughout conservative spheres, becoming evident when Sheehy’s campaign published emails from Post reporters working on a subsequent story.

The emails revealed that Post reporters were investigating Sheehy’s military service and its role in his campaign. Inconsistencies in Sheehy’s narratives were noted, including his account of a gun wound, which he initially told a Glacier National Park ranger in 2015 was a result of an accidental self-inflicted gunshot when his revolver discharged in the Park.

However, the Post’s initial story highlighted that Sheehy later claimed this to be a cover-up for a war wound from 2012, possibly from friendly fire, which he had not reported to protect his platoon from a possible military investigation.

Sheehy’s campaign has long capitalized on his military background, with his war-hero image being a significant part of his candidacy. His confusing accounts and the subsequent investigation have become central to the dialogue about his campaign.

Sheehy’s Response and Resulting Backlash

Sheehy’s response to the Post’s inquiries was to decry the reporting as an attempt to discredit his service. He took particular issue with the 24-hour response window provided by the Post, a common journalistic practice, and accused them of harassment. This led to further backlash from right-wing social media users.

The Post’s follow-up story, which Sheehy condemned as an attempt to discredit his service, examined the wider phenomenon of military veterans using their service as a political platform. Despite Sheehy’s campaign declining to answer specific questions, they did provide a general statement validating Sheehy’s honorable service in the Navy.

While Sheehy’s narrative continues to be a point of contention, his campaign remains unswayed, branding the Post’s stories as the product of the ‘liberal elite misinformation machine.’