This Montana Senate candidate said his opponent ate 'lobbyist steak.' But he lobbied—with steak

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — During an October debate, Montana GOP Senate candidate Tim Sheehy took a shot at his Democratic opponent, Sen. Jon Tester, for " eating lobbyist steak " while the Republican fought in Afghanistan.

But Sheehy himself had a taste for red meat and lobbying, according to emails obtained by The Associated Press. He combined the two in pursuit of government contracts that allowed his aerial firefighting company to rapidly expand over the past decade.

"I hope you enjoyed the steakhouse," Sheehy wrote to Ryan Osmundson, the state Budget Director after a November 2021 meeting in Martinsdale, Montana. Sheehy went on to describe his company's aircraft as "ideal" for a dedicated, state-based fleet of planes to aggressively fight fires. There's no indication the lobbying of Montana officials involved any wrongdoing by Bridger Aerospace or Sheehy.