Politician Body Slams Reporter
/I guess this is what Donald Trump means when he talks about a war with the media.
Ben Jacobs, a Guardian Political Reporter, was asking Greg Gianforte, a Republican candidate for Montana’s congressional seatand a tech millionaire endorsed by Donald Trump, about the Republican healthcare plan when this happened.
Gianforte attacked Jacobs and body slammed him, breaking his glasses as Gianforte yelled for him to “Get the hell out of here.”
“He took me to the ground,” Jacobs said by phone from the back of an ambulance. “I think he wailed on me once or twice ... He got on me and I think he hit me ... This is the strangest thing that has ever happened to me in reporting on politics.”
Gianforte has been charged with misdemeanor assault.
“Following multiple interviews and an investigation by the Gallatin county sheriff’s office it was determined there was probable cause to issue a citation to Greg Gianforte for misdemeanor assault,” sheriff Brian Gootkin said in a statement. “The nature of the injuries did not meet the statutory elements of felony assault. Greg Gianforte received a citation on Wednesday night and is scheduled to appear in Gallatin county justice court between now and June 7, 2017.”
A statement by campaign spokesman Shane Scanlon blamed Jacobs for the altercation, saying that he “entered the office without permission, aggressively shoved a recorder in Greg’s face, and began asking badgering questions”.
Of course sadly, he will likely go on to win the special election Today, because you know, hating the media is a thing now.
Thanks for that President Trump.
H/T The Guardian