Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) – Montana District 1 Congressman Ryan Zinke appeared on the KGVO Talk Back show on Wednesday and opened the discussion by calling out his democratic opponent Monica Tranel for allegedly ‘fraudulently’ entering his property to film a campaign commercial.
“There are lines,” began Zinke. “For someone to fraudulently enter our property and film in our property and bounce on our bed; that’s a bridge too far, but it goes beyond the pale to stand in our driveway to film a commercial and lie about it. The Flathead Beacon stated that it was a lie.”
Zinke expanded on his comments by stating that some in his family have received death threats.
“And then they were filming on our driveway,” he said. “As a former secretary (of the Interior) I’ve received death threats, but so has my wife, so have my kids, and, as a matter of fact, my dog also received death threats. So we take it very seriously, and when our family feels uneasy in our own home because someone’s launching vitriolic attacks that are untruthful in the yard, that’s beyond the pale. We’ll get through it, but it just shows that some people have no boundaries. They’re wanting to do anything to win.”
Zinke continued to unload on his opponent.
“She’s been attacking me and my family for four years, viciously and falsely, saying, ‘I’m not from Montana’,” he said. “It’s interesting. That’s a funny one. I was born in Bozeman, when my folks were going to school, and I grew up in Whitefish. My father’s a plumber and my mom was a real estate agent. Then I graduated high school. I played ball at Oregon. I served 23 years as a Navy SEAL. And by the way, with service as a SEAL, you’re still Montanan.”
Zinke continued on that tack.
“Then I come back (to Montana),” he said. “I’m a high school football coach, a state senator, three-time congressman, and a secretary (of the Interior). If serving your country doesn’t make you a Montanan, I would say back off. Well, everyone from Montana asks, ‘How long have you’ve been here’? The Zinke family’s been around for five generations.”
READ MORE: Monica Tranel Pitches Her Housing Plan for Montana
Zinke is favored to win his second term, however, recent reports state that Tranel has narrowed the gap between the candidates for the house of representatives.
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