U.S. Congressman-elect Greg Gianforte (R-MT) has plead guilty to misdemeanor assault against a reporter.
Gianforte appeared in Gallatin County Justice Court, where Judge Rick West ordered him to serve 40 hours of community service, attend 20 hours of anger management sessions and pay US$385 in fines.
Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs said he looks forward to interviewing the lawmaker who beat him up.
During the hearing, reporter Ben Jacobs of the Guardian, a British newspaper with an worldwide web readership, recounted his violent encounter with Gianforte and the subsequent national ramifications.
Earlier this week, Jacobs and Gianforte reached a settlement in which Jacobs agreed not to sue Gianforte, while the congressman-elect agreed to donate $50,000 to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
"Greg Gianforte just body slammed me and broke my glasses", Gianforte wrote.
Gianforte was sentenced to a suspended sentence, community service, and anger management classes.
As previously reported, Gianforte was later charged with misdemeanor assault.
'Frosty' Exchange? Comey Confronted Lynch over Clinton Probe
That means the presidency and the public will be subjected to even more of what we've seen so far - and it might just get worse. Clapper said last week was worse than Watergate, a scandal that led to then-President Richard Nixon's resignation.
Zinke won a second term as Montana's congressman last November before President Donald Trump tapped him for the cabinet post. "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 exhausted of this!'" a Fox News reporter wrote in the story.
In his apology last week, Gianforte said his "physical response to your [Jacobs'] legitimate question was unprofessional, unacceptable, and unlawful" and that Jacobs "did not initiate any physical contact with me". Some of Gianforte's fellow Republicans, including Ryan, have criticized him over the assault but said he simply needed to apologize.
Gianforte had paid Jacobs $4,464.97 in restitution as part of the criminal charge, according to the paper. I asked then candidate Gianforte a question about the most important issue of the day: the cost of the Republican health care plan. Audio taken by Jacobs recorded sounds of a scuffle, followed by Gianforte yelling for the reporter to "get the hell out of here".
A misdemeanor assault conviction in Montana carries a maximum penalty of up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $500, according to the state government website.
"Last night, I made a mistake".
Once Gianforte enters his plea on Monday, he will be sentenced.
At no time during today's hearing or afterwards did Gianforte or his staff say why his campaign initially blamed the assault on "aggressive behavior from a liberal journalist". Neither Gianforte nor his staff have clarified why a false statement was sent out after the assault.
Comments