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.<\/p>\n
During that conversation, another man<\/a> \u2014 who we now know is Ben Jacobs of The Guardian \u2014 walked into the room with a voice recorder, put it up to Gianforte\u2019s 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\u00a0his question. Gianforte told him to talk to his press guy<\/a>, Shane Scanlon.<\/p>\n 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<\/a>, as he moved on top the reporter and began yelling something to the effect of \u201cI\u2019m sick and tired of this!\u201d<\/p>\n 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<\/a> then left.<\/p>\n The FOX crew says they saw no aggression from Jacobs during the incident. More at the link<\/a>.<\/p>\n Greg Gianforte just body slammed me and broke my glasses<\/p>\n \u2014 Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) May 24, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Gianforte’s statement: pic.twitter.com\/WVNdA1yZ8w<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) May 25, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The Guardian adds<\/a>:<\/p>\n The Gallatin County sheriff\u2019s office is investigating.<\/p>\n A statement by campaign spokesman Shane Scanlon blamed Jacobs for the altercation, saying that he \u201centered the office without permission, aggressively shoved a recorder in Greg\u2019s face, and began asking badgering questions\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cJacobs was asked to leave,\u201d the statement reads. \u201cAfter asking Jacobs to lower the recorder, Jacobs declined. Greg then attempted to grab the phone that was pushed in his face. Jacobs grabbed Greg\u2019s wrist, and spun away from Greg, pushing them both to the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s unfortunate that this aggressive behavior from a liberal journalist created this scene at our campaign volunteer BBQ.\u201d<\/p>\n Scanlon\u2019s account appears to be contradicted by audio of the abortive interview recorded by Jacobs. The audio does not capture Jacobs being asked to leave or lower his recorder, but does contain an apparent reference to the Guardian\u2019s previous attempts to report on Gianforte<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019m sick and tired of you guys<\/a>,\u201d Gianforte said. \u201cThe last guy<\/a> who came here did the same thing. Get the hell out of here. Get the hell out of here. The last guy<\/a> did the same thing. Are you with the Guardian?\u201d<\/p>\n The post Greg Gianforte, Montana GOP House Candidate in Special Election, Body Slams Reporter: LISTEN<\/a> appeared first on Towleroad<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n
\n