Wednesday, May 24, 2017

HOT Republican Candidate 'Body-Slams' Reporter in Montana

The Republican candidate for Montana’s congressional seat slammed a Guardian reporter to the floor on the eve of the state’s special election, breaking his glasses and shouting, “Get the hell out of here.”

Ben Jacobs, a Guardian political reporter, was asking Greg Gianforte, a tech millionaire running for the seat vacated by Ryan Zinke, about the Republican healthcare plan when the candidate allegedly “body-slammed” the reporter.

Here's the audio:


 


-RW 

UPDATE

Gallatin County Sheriffs now taking witness statements.  

UPDATE 2

Trump had recorded a robocall for  Gianforte.

UPDATE 3

Gianforte campaign statement. Doesn't jive with what can be heard on the audio clip.




UPDATE 4




UPDATE 5

A FOX News team witnessed the assault.

Here is their statement:


 As part of our preparation for a story about Thursday's special election to air on "Special Report with Bret Baier," we arranged interviews with the top two candidates, Republican Greg Gianforte and Democrat Rob Quist. On Wednesday, I joined field producer Faith Mangan and photographer Keith Railey in Bozeman for our scheduled interview with Gianforte, which was to take place at the Gianforte for Congress Bozeman Headquarters.

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 him 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 man, as he moved on top the reporter and 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. He 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.

To be clear, at no point did any of us who witnessed this assault see Jacobs show any form of physical aggression toward Gianforte, who left the area after giving statements to local sheriff's deputies.

As for myself and my crew, we are cooperating with local authorities.

UPDATE 6

Gianforte charged with misdemeanor assault.

(Bozeman, Mont.) From Sheriff Brian Gootkin;

At 5:08 pm this evening our Deputies responded to Discovery Drive for a reported assault.  The text of the initial report to the 911 center follows:
-111.068258 +45.653654 21 CALLBK=PH 2 21 M
RP STATES HE WAS JUST ASSAULTED BY GREG GIANFORTE
STATES THAT GREG BODY SLAMMED HIM AND KNOCKED HIS ARM
Recommend Unit Command opened on event S1705240107
RP HAS A RECORDING OF THE INCIDENT ON HIS PHONE
STATES IT HAPPENED AT THE CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS BUT DOESNT KNOW THE ADDRESS
RP IS A REPORTER AND HE ASKED GREG ABOUT HIS HEALTHCARE PLAN AND HE “BODY SLAMMED HIM”
GREG IS STILL AT THE HEADQUARTERS
RP WOULD LIKE MEDICAL ATTENTION
RP IS SAFE NOW
ADDITIONAL AMR UNIT REQUESTED AT SCENE
ADDITIONAL AMR UNIT REQUESTED AT SCENE
Recommend Unit Command opened on event f201703380
** Case number R201700166 has been assigned for FIRE:HFD
** Case number A1705240007 has been assigned for EMS:AMR
** >>>> by: JAKE ALLMENDINGER on terminal: gc911eccop3v92
** >>>> by: JAKE ALLMENDINGER on terminal: gc911eccop3v92
C6-1 STAGED
QRU 6 & C6-2 STAGED
MEDICAL IS CLEAR
NWE ADV
Ending Transport Mileage: 3.4
Earlier this evening I conducted a press conference about an incident that occurred at Greg Gianforte’s campaign headquarters.  After the press conference it was brought to my attention that people were commenting on a contribution that I made to the Gianforte campaign.  I did contribute $250.00 on March 23, 2017.  This contribution has nothing to do with our investigation which is now complete.
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 (MCA 45-5-201).  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.
45-5-201. Assault. (1) A person commits the offense of assault if the person:
(a) purposely or knowingly causes bodily injury to another;
(b) negligently causes bodily injury to another with a weapon;
(c) purposely or knowingly makes physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with any individual; or
(d) purposely or knowingly causes reasonable apprehension of bodily injury in another.
(2) A person convicted of assault shall be fined not to exceed $500 or be imprisoned in the county jail for any term not to exceed 6 months, or both. ######

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