After Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs had accused GOP Congressional Candidate Greg Gianforte of body-slamming him, the Republican’s campaign released a statement saying Jacobs was the assaulter even though the audio implied otherwise. Fox News reporter Alicia Acuna provided a damning eyewitness account proving the campaign lied.
Gianforte’s campaign lied
Republican Congressional Candidate Greg Gianforte’s campaign lied in response to grabbing by the neck and body-slamming Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs.
Foxnews Alicia Acuna wrote the following.
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.
And this is where the campaign’s lie begins. According to the Gianforte campaign, Jacobs was the aggressor. Acuna completely dispelled that lie.
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.
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. It is not clear if charges will be filed against Gianforte at this time.
Read Alicia Acuna’s full statement here.
It is clear that this was an assault. The real question is why wasn’t candidate arrested. According to DailyKos, it seems that the Sheriff is a Gianforte Donor.
As several folks have noted, Gallatin County Sheriff Brian Gootkin has donated to Gianforte, whom he's investigating https://t.co/UWe7fViSQv pic.twitter.com/sN25K6oxNE
— Daily Kos Elections (@DKElections) May 25, 2017
Over two-thirds of the vote is likely in by mail. Will voters on reward this bad behavior as they did for Trump?