Montana’s Gianforte Charged With Assault of Guardian Reporter

The Montana U.S. Representative race between Democrat Rob Quist and Republican Greg Gianforte is heating up in a bid to fill the seat vacated by Ryan Zinke when he was given the nod by President Trump to take the Secretary of the Interior position.  Between sleep deprivation and rigorous campaigning, the political insults have been flying, with the Leftist mainstream media taking special pains to get their jabs in early and often.

What is not helping the Republican front-runner, however, is his penchant for instilling fear in the media.  In an earlier event, when asked by a member of the audience what could be done to combat the MSM’s “fake news,” he reportedly pointed to a reporter in the audience and joked, “We have someone right here.  It seems like there is more of us than there is of him.”  That reporter from the Missoulian newspaper demanded an apology, for which Gianforte remarked later that he was joking.

The latest scuffle was witnessed by the Fox News staff and they were rattled by what they saw.

Faith, Keith and I arrived early to set up for the interview in a room adjacent to another room where a volunteer BBQ was to take place. As the time for the interview neared, Gianforte came into the room. We exchanged pleasantries and made small talk about restaurants and Bozeman.

During that conversation, another man — who we now know is Ben Jacobs of The Guardian — walked into the room with a voice recorder, put it up to Gianforte’s face and began asking if he had a response to the newly released Congressional Budget Office report on the American Health Care Act. Gianforte told him he would get to him later. Jacobs persisted with his question. Gianforte told him to talk to his press guy, Shane Scanlon.

At that point, Gianforte grabbed Jacobs by the neck with both hands and slammed him into the ground behind him. Faith, Keith and I watched in disbelief as Gianforte then began punching the reporter. As Gianforte moved on top of Jacobs, he began yelling something to the effect of, “I’m sick and tired of this!”

Jacobs scrambled to his knees and said something about his glasses being broken. He asked Faith, Keith and myself for our names. In shock, we did not answer. Jacobs then said he wanted the police called and went to leave. Gianforte looked at the three of us and repeatedly apologized. At that point, I told him and Scanlon, who was now present, that we needed a moment. The men then left.

Greg Gianforte just body slammed me and broke my glasses

— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) May 24, 2017

The die had been cast, though, of the Republican being a bully.

MSNBC jumped right into the fray with this “scandal” served up on a silver platter by the candidate himself.  The reporter who was “body slammed” is certainly playing up the injury to his elbow, though.  Claiming to be in the hospital “as we speak” receiving EMERGENCY treatment for his LIFE-THREATENING injuries to his elbow…unable to type on his laptop with two hands!  The horror!

The overly-dramatic nature of the reporter’s claims does not alter the fact that what Gianforte did was wrong.  Nobody, no matter how powerful or how popular or how right, has free-reign to act like this, least of all, someone running to represent the people.  It’s a shameful act and needs to be fully apologized for without referring to how the “Libs are out to get me” kind of rhetoric.

Police gave a press conference on the incident yesterday:

Some voters looked upon the incident favorably:

MSNBC political correspondent Garrett Haake tweeted Thursday that a Gianforte voter told him, “I think reporters have it coming.” Haake tweeted yesterday that he told a gas station clerk about the incident and she replied, “My kind of politician.”

 

CNN’s Kyung Lah also said that a Republican voter told her that the audio of the incident made her “cheer.”

While these voters stood by Gianforte, Montana’s largest newspaper rescinded its endorsement. “We previously supported Gianforte because he said he was ready to listen, to compromise, to take the tough questions,” The Billings Gazette editorial board wrote. “Everything he said was obliterated by his surprising actions that were recorded and witnessed Wednesday.”

Congressional Republicans meanwhile were rather lukewarm in their responses. House Speaker Paul Ryan said that the congressional candidate should apologize, although he added, “If he wins, he has been chosen by the people of Montana, who their congressman’s going to be. I’m going to let the people of Montana decide who they want as their representative.”

Republican South Carolina Rep. Mark Sanford joked that “people would be careful not to make him mad,” and Republican California Rep. Duncan Hunter said it shouldn’t have occurred, “unless the reporter deserved it.”

NEW: Source close to Gianforte campaign says it's raised $100K+ online in last 24 hours — most of it coming after reporter "body slam."

— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) May 25, 2017

Source: Fox News, Daily Caller