The Independent Leadership Council Launches Ad Campaign Exposing Kurt Alme’s Character Failures and Highlighting Seth Bodnar’s Dedication to American Values
Date Published: September 17, 2026
Alme’s Acts as US Attorney to Protect Sexual Predators Stand in Stark Contrast to Bodnar’s Strong Track Records of Protecting American Values
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Independent Leadership Council (ILC) today launched a new state-wide ad campaign throughout Montana, exposing Kurt Alme for his repeated failure to prosecute sex crimes, and highlighting Seth Bodnar’s strong character and track record of protecting American values.
The 30 second ad, available HERE, exposes Kurt Alme’s failure to prosecute more than 70 percent of sexual abuse cases during his time as a US Attorney per TracReports. Notable statistics include:
- Declined to prosecute 78 percent of sexual abuse cases in FY 2018: Alme declined to prosecute 14 out of 18 sexual abuse cases, comprised of nine instances of aggravated sexual abuse and five instances of sexual abuse.
- Declined to prosecute 79 percent of sex abuse cases in FY 2019: Alme declined to prosecute 31 out of 39 sexual abuses cases, comprised of 18 instances of aggravated sexual abuse and 13 instances of sexual abuse.
Throughout his tenure as a US Attorney, Kurt Alme struck sweetheart plea deals with sexual abusers including a 2020 plea deal giving Mychel Damon, who sexually abused a 6-year-old, less than a year in prison and not requiring him to register as a sex offender (Huffington Post/Yahoo News).
Alme’s opponent, independent candidate Seth Bodnar, has a starkly different track record. Bodnar served America as a Green Beret for more than seven years, including overseas service in Iraq, and received a Bronze Star. Bodnar championed education as the president of the University of Montana, where he reversed a decline in enrollment, including bolstering Native American enrollment by 40 percent, and secured investments of more than $350M which assisted in turning the university around. Bodnar’s strong track record shows that he is a defender of American and Montana values.
Adam Brandon, co-founder of the ILC said: “The numbers speak for themselves: Kurt Alme declined to prosecute more than 70 percent of the sexual abuse cases that came across his desk as U.S. Attorney. In a time when Washington insiders are still not fully disclosing their ties to Jeffrey Epstein, Alme’s career reflects a troubling record of inaction. And when he did act, he let a man who abused a 6-year-old walk away with less than a year behind bars and no sex offender registration.”
“Montana families deserve a leader who takes these cases seriously — not one with a track record of looking the other way. Seth Bodnar spent his career protecting people, first in uniform as a Green Beret, then as a university president who rebuilt trust and opportunity at UM. That’s the kind of leadership Montana needs.”
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About the Independent Leadership Council
The Independent Leadership Council is a national organization dedicated to electing independent-minded leaders to Congress who refuse to caucus with either political party and commit to full transparency and accountability to the voters they serve.
Media Contacts:
Alex Comisar | acomisar@actumllc.com | (214) 728-4909
Liam Dineen-Herzog | ldineenherzog@actumllc.com | (475) 204-1155