Nov. 3, 20205
A liberal candidate for the Helena City Council left a phone message for Montana Republican U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy in July, wishing that he contract pancreatic cancer and “die in the street like a dog,” according to a national news outlet’s coverage Monday.
Haley McKnight, in an interview with Montana Free Press Monday, acknowledged leaving the message but maintained she was speaking out in a ”justified rage,” in response to the senator’s politics.
McKnight is one of four candidates vying for two seats on the Helena City Commission. The nonpartisan election is Tuesday. The election is largely held by mail, and 32% of ballots had already been returned.
“Hi, this is Haley McKnight. I’m a constituent in Helena, Montana, and I just wanted to let you know that you are the most insufferable kind of coward and thief,” McKnight said, according to the recording posted to the National Review’s website. “You just stripped away health care for 17 million Americans. And I hope you’re really proud of that. I hope that one day you get pancreatic cancer and it spreads throughout your body so fast that they can’t even treat you for it. I hope that you die in the street like a dog. I…oooooohh. One day you’re gonna live to regret this.”
The recording continues, “God forbid that you ever meet me on the streets, because I will make you regret it. F-ck you. I hope you die.”
McKnight Monday doubled down on her message and her reasons for leaving it.
“ I don’t regret anything that I said, only that I probably shouldn’t have used so many cuss words,” McKnight said. “[It’s] not very becoming of me, but yeah, I was speaking out of a justified rage for what our senator has done to erode our Constitution and erode the benefits of Montana’s people through his actions.”
McKnight did specify Monday that she doesn’t wish the senator any harm and that there is “no reason” for him to fear her. She said the voice message was not meant as a threat.
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