Exclusive: Sen. Tim Sheehy donates salary to charity, follows through on ethics pledge
“I’m going above and beyond standard ethics requirements to make sure the people of Montana know I’m in this to make government work for them, not myself,” Sen. Tim Sheehy told us.
After freshman Sen. Tim Sheehy (R., Mont.) won the most expensive Senate race in history on a per-vote basis, he will be “donating my senate salary to charity,” he told the Washington Reporter exclusively.
“I was fortunate to experience success in the private sector before I ran for office,” Sheehy said. Sheehy will announce the specific charities he is contributing to in the coming weeks. Sheehy and his wife Carmen have been prolific donors to Montana charities focused on health care, pediatrics, and youth programs. Sheehy said his new donations will likely focus on the same causes.
Sheehy also told the Reporter that his business experience will help him as a legislator. “My time in the private sector gives me a unique perspective on some of the greatest challenges facing our government,” Sheehy said. “I’ve seen firsthand how bureaucracy can hurt small businesses.”
One of the companies Sheehy founded, Ascent Vision Technologies, specialized in counter-drone technology and aerial surveillance systems. In 2020, it was acquired by CACI International for $350 million.
The other company Sheehy founded, Bridger Aerospace, is an aerial firefighting company that went public in 2023. The company is currently helping to fight the Los Angeles wildfires. Democrats’ attempts to attack and destroy Bridger Aerospace became the subject of a Wall Street Journal exposé during his race against now-former Sen. Jon Tester (D., Mont.).
Sheehy also told the Reporter he is following through on the ethics pledge he took during the campaign. He will not trade stocks or bonds while in office and is in the process of placing his liquid assets in a blind trust to avoid the appearance of conflicts of interest.
“One of the things people hate about Washington is that career politicians use their access to inside information to trade stocks and rig the system for themselves,” he said. “I’m going above and beyond standard ethics requirements to make sure the people of Montana know I’m in this to make government work for them, not myself.”
Sheehy, one of the wealthiest members of Congress, faced attacks over his wealth during the campaign. The new senator told the Reporter that voters viewed his business success as an asset, not a liability.
“Voters sent a clear message that they want leaders from outside of politics to come to Washington and shake up the status quo,” Sheehy said. “Most voters told me they appreciated the fact that I had experienced success in business and hoped I could bring a businessman’s perspective to Washington.”