HELENA — Facing mounting pressure, Republican U.S. House candidate Ryan Zinke said Thursday he is working to find and release a missing military record before the Nov. 4 election.
Zinke said his staff has been pressing the U.S. Navy on his request to release a 1999 report that opponents say should show the circumstances in which he departed Navy SEAL Team 6.
“They’ve made calls this morning to get that particular report expedited,” Zinke said. “I wish I had it.”
Campaign spokeswoman Shelby DeMars said Thursday afternoon that Navy personnel told her they wouldn’t email one document. But, she said she was told the complete military records, including the fitness report in question, should arrive in Montana by mid-next week.
“Long story short is we’re on track to get them pretty soon,” DeMars said.
DeMars said they requested all of Zinke’s records from the Navy on Sept. 1.
Zinke’s incomplete military records re-emerged as an issue during a candidate debate this week. Zinke’s temper flared as he used the word “shameless” to describe anyone alleging his career was less than honorable after a reporter questioned him about the report.
In July, Democrats requested Zinke’s official military personnel file including fitness reports, counseling forms and training records, but many of the records they received were heavily redacted. Democratic Party officials said the request stemmed from allegations that Zinke misused taxpayer dollars for personal travel. They also asked the Navy for any letters of reprimand related to that incident but were denied in their request.
Zinke insists his records only show a commendable military career.
He told The Associated Press the disputed travel claim was for a $211 plane ticket to Montana when he was a junior officer. He said Thursday the travel discrepancy arose from a seven-year audit of his travel expenses in approximately 1999 after someone complained about his travel to Montana to scout for SEAL training locations.
He said he paid the money back by writing a check and that there are no letters of reprimand related to the audit.
Zinke also said he didn’t have the 1999 report and other records because when he retired he was focused on making sure he had his medical records and retirement documents.
“I didn’t keep all my fitness reports because they didn’t matter to me,” he said.
Zinke, a former state senator, faces Democrat John Lewis, a former aide to U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, and Libertarian Mike Fellows in the Nov. 4 election for Montana’s lone House seat. Republican Rep. Steve Daines is leaving the seat to run for U.S. Senate.