Thread: GOP candidate charged after allegedly 'body slamming' reporter

Originally Posted by redhaze

Originally Posted by Slick

What was the question, or series of questions?

Not much, something about whether he supported the Trump healthcare bill.

Apparently the guy was pissed about another reporter from the same organization asking a similar question earlier in the week.

He was trying to fob him off and the reporter wasn't having it.

That's his job.

Yep....

He is fooked. Guilty of assault.

A congressional candidate in Montana has nothing to do with Trump.

Maybe he even did it to start a "story."

Who knows.

Same circus; different clowns.

^ STFU You utter buffoon.

Originally Posted by Cold Pizza

A congressional candidate in Montana has nothing to do with Trump.

Of course that's what you're hoping. Especially when he is asked to answer questions about Trumpcare.

Originally Posted by Humbert

Originally Posted by Cold Pizza

A congressional candidate in Montana has nothing to do with Trump.

Of course that's what you're hoping. Especially when he is asked to answer questions about Trumpcare.

You don't understand.

He's a candidate. He's not in office.

Trump care sux. He's not in office.

Originally Posted by bsnub

^ STFU You utter buffoon.

Why don't you, you drunk isolated idiot in Seattle.

Originally Posted by Humbert

Originally Posted by Cold Pizza

Originally Posted by Humbert

Originally Posted by Cold Pizza

A congressional candidate in Montana has nothing to do with Trump.

Of course that's what you're hoping. Especially when he is asked to answer questions about Trumpcare.

You don't understand.

He's a candidate. He's not in office.

Trump care sux. He's not in office.

He's a Trump supporter you idiot. Of course he's going to get asked questions about Trump's policies.

It doesn't matter.

He's a candidate for office from Montana.

Just like, a supporter of another candidate, from a far away state who's NOT in office.


Take some note. You might learn.

Why would this story even make the news, regardless who a candidate "supports?"

Originally Posted by Humbert

Originally Posted by Cold Pizza

A congressional candidate in Montana has nothing to do with Trump.

Of course that's what you're hoping. Especially when he is asked to answer questions about Trumpcare.

Trump sux.

I've said it before.

Any congressional candidate has nothing to do with the potus.

They are not in office.


You are both naiive.

Originally Posted by Cold Pizza

Any congressional candidate has nothing to do with the potus.

"This election will be a referendum on Donald Trump and this administration," Gianforte said. "We're going to have national attention, and we need every single person in this room to do everything you can to make sure we win."

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-sta...-replace-zinke

"Gianforte, who narrowly lost a bid to become Montana’s governor last year, leads Quist by about 6 percentage points in the latest poll. At a high-profile event last Friday, Vice President Mike Pence campaigned with Gianforte"

Montana Democrat Hits Opponent For Health Care Flip-Flop In New Ad | HuffPost

A strong conection imo but no big deal.

Originally Posted by Norton

Originally Posted by Cold Pizza

Any congressional candidate has nothing to do with the potus.

"This election will be a referendum on Donald Trump and this administration," Gianforte said. "We're going to have national attention, and we need every single person in this room to do everything you can to make sure we win."

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-sta...-replace-zinke

"Gianforte, who narrowly lost a bid to become Montana’s governor last year, leads Quist by about 6 percentage points in the latest poll. At a high-profile event last Friday, Vice President Mike Pence campaigned with Gianforte"

Montana Democrat Hits Opponent For Health Care Flip-Flop In New Ad | HuffPost

A strong conection imo but no big deal.

See bold.

IMO, no this is not a referendum on Trump nor any potus in office (as if it was HRC).

Why?

It's only been 4 months of T in office.

A LOT of Congressional elections are based on LOCAL issues.

It's.....Montana, also.

Originally Posted by Cold Pizza

IMO, no this is not a referendum on Trump nor any potus in office (as if it was HRC).

Gianforte claims it is in his campaign speechs. Pence has campaigned with him. Gotta belive Trump supports Gianforte and Gianforte is a Trump supporter.

Originally Posted by Norton

Originally Posted by Cold Pizza

IMO, no this is not a referendum on Trump nor any potus in office (as if it was HRC).

Gianforte claims it is in his campaign speechs. Pence has campaigned with him. Gotta belive Trump supports Gianforte and Gianforte is a Trump supporter.

It's just more bullshit politics.

Been the same for eternity.

Don't fall for it.

Wow. 2 year term - perpetually running for re-election by trying to bring in the pork.

Originally Posted by Norton

Being only a small percentage vote at polling stations in Montana, most of the vote already in via absentee

I'm curious about where you got that information. I don't doubt it but I would like to see some stats. Seems logical to me that the urban centers where most of the population reside would vote in polling centers.

^ I have heard the same as Norts. As many as two thirds have already cast ballots via mail.

Originally Posted by Humbert

I'm curious about where you got that information

Being a news junky I heard it on TV. I stand corrected. Appears 63% go to polls. Still a large absentee percentage. Here you go.

"Of approximately 700,000 Montana registered voters overall, 37% cast their vote early, Oestreicher said. This is before in person voting began Thursday"

Montana absentee vote turnout in the spotlight after Gianforte 'body slam' - CNNPolitics.com

Originally Posted by Norton

Gianforte wins. Goes to Congress facing a misdemeanor assault charge.

Trumps fault.

More details of the "riveting" election that the media stirred up.

Liberals Wanted a Fight in Montana. Democratic Leaders Saw a Lost Cause.
By JONATHAN MARTIN and ALEXANDER BURNSMAY 26, 2017

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/26/u...tion.html?_r=0

Time for some "body slams," here...

On Nut resurrection?...

'Body slam' congressman sentenced to 20 hours of anger counselling

A Montana congressman who "body slammed" a reporter has been fined and sentenced to community service and anger management counselling.

Greg Gianforte, 56, pleaded guilty to assaulting a journalist from the UK's Guardian newspaper on the eve of his election last month.

A judge initially sentenced the Republican to four days in jail before reducing the penalty.
Gianforte is expected to be sworn in to office later this month.

Gallatin County Justice Court Judge Rick West gave Gianforte a 180-day deferred jail sentence.

He was ordered to pay $385 (£304), complete 40 hours of community service and 20 hours of anger management counselling.

Ben Jacobs, the reporter who was attacked after asking the candidate whether he supported the Republican healthcare plan, agreed not to sue Gianforte if he wrote a letter of apology and donated $50,000 (£39,500) to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Following Gianforte's sentence, Mr Jacobs released a statement saying "while I have no doubt that actions like these were an aberration for Congressman-elect Gianforte personally, I worry that, in the context of our political debate, they have become increasingly common".

"This needs to stop," he added.

He said he hoped the "court's decision can send a strong message about the necessity of civil discourse in our country, the important role of the free press and the need to help heal our political system".

Alicia Acuna, a reporter from Fox News who witnessed the attack, said Gianforte "grabbed Jacobs by the neck with both hands and slammed him into the ground", before he began "punching" the reporter.

The politician initially claimed Mr Jacobs had grabbed his wrist, pulling them both to the ground. His spokesperson called it "aggressive behaviour from a liberal journalist".
But in his formal apology, Gianforte acknowledged his actions and took full responsibility.

Gianforte won the special congressional election in Montana, just hours after he was charged with assault.

The multimillionaire technology executive and Christian conservative beat Democrat Rob Quist, a banjo-playing folk singer, to fill an empty seat in the House of Representatives.
In a victory speech Gianforte said he had "learned a lesson" and was "sorry".

President Donald Trump praised the victory during an official trip to Italy, calling it a "great win in Montana".

'Body slam' congressman sentenced to 20 hours of anger counselling - BBC News