Senate Candidate Tim Sheehy Slammed for Allegedly Doctoring Ad to Conceal Anti-Public Lands Ties

Photo byTim Sheehy for Senate

Montana Senate candidate Tim Sheehy allegedly doctored a campaign ad to hide his ties with a group advocating for the privatization of public lands.

Sheehy’s Campaign Under Fire for Manipulating Ad to Hide Controversial Ties

Montana Senate candidate Tim Sheehy is facing serious allegations after a recent investigation revealed that his campaign likely doctored a television advertisement to conceal his association with the Property and Environment Research Center (PERC), a group known for advocating the privatization of public lands. The allegations, first reported by HuffPost, highlight Sheehy’s ongoing efforts to obscure his support for transferring public lands, a contentious issue that has become a focal point in the race for the U.S. Senate seat.

The controversy centers around a TV ad in which Sheehy appears wearing a flannel shirt that originally bore the PERC logo—a green pine tree above the letters “PERC.” A forensic analysis suggests that the logo was digitally removed, a move that has been criticized as a blatant attempt to mislead voters about Sheehy’s true affiliations and policy positions.

Manipulated Ad Raises Ethical Questions

The scrutiny of Sheehy's campaign intensified after digital forensics expert Hany Farid from the University of California, Berkeley, examined the ad materials. Farid pointed out that the stripes on Sheehy’s shirt were misaligned and the colors mixed—common signs of digital manipulation. “In the two places where you can clearly see his right shoulder, the stripes on the shirt are misaligned,” Farid explained. He added, “At the 00:15 second mark, you can see a slight slippage of a region on the right shoulder where what looks like a copy-paste manipulation to conceal the logo moved differently than the arm.”

Sheehy’s camp has not provided a consistent explanation for the editing, and other materials from the same shoot still prominently feature the PERC logo. This inconsistency has only fueled the perception that Sheehy is attempting to obscure his ties with PERC, further eroding trust among voters who prioritize public land conservation.

Public Lands: A Contentious Issue in Montana

Public lands are a deeply personal and politically charged issue in Montana, a state renowned for its natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities. PERC, the group Sheehy is associated with, has a controversial stance advocating for the privatization of federal public lands, including national parks, and opposes Montana’s stream access laws, which are among the most generous in the country. The group’s position runs counter to the values held by many Montanans who cherish unrestricted access to the state’s rivers and streams.

Earlier in the campaign, Sheehy sent out mailers featuring a family photo at a campsite, where the PERC logo on his shirt was clearly visible. However, in a TV ad filmed at the same location, the logo was conspicuously missing. This selective editing has raised alarms about Sheehy's transparency and integrity, particularly as he attempts to recast himself as a champion of public lands, despite his documented support for policies that would transfer federal lands to state control.

Sheehy’s Record Contradicts His Campaign Rhetoric

Sheehy’s maneuvering is part of a broader pattern of disingenuous campaigning, critics say. In past statements, Sheehy explicitly called for federal lands to be “turned over” to states, aligning with the Montana GOP platform, which supports the transfer of federally managed public lands to state control. This position is widely unpopular among Montana residents, who value their access to public lands and fear that state management could lead to restricted access or privatization.

As the election approaches, Sheehy has doubled down on his efforts to win over public lands advocates. He has released two additional TV ads emphasizing his supposed commitment to preserving federal lands. One ad featured Walsh, a current PERC board member, while another starred a Montana hunting guide who mistakenly believed that Sheehy shared his pro-state takeover stance. These ads, however, seem at odds with Sheehy’s historical position and recent actions, raising further doubts about the authenticity of his public lands advocacy.

Another Attempt at Damage Control Falls Flat

Sheehy’s handling of the PERC logo incident is the latest in a series of missteps as he struggles to distance himself from his own controversial record on public lands. The decision to doctor the TV ad, only to be exposed, is being seen as yet another botched attempt at damage control. Critics argue that these actions speak to a broader pattern of obfuscation and inconsistency, undermining Sheehy’s credibility as a candidate.

The allegations against Sheehy have sparked renewed calls for greater transparency and honesty from political candidates, especially on issues as critical as public land management. For many voters in Montana, where outdoor recreation and conservation are a way of life, Sheehy’s actions may prove disqualifying.

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