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REPUBLICAN GREG GIANFORTE has been elected to a Montana seat one day after allegedly bodyslamming a reporter and breaking his glasses.
Gianforte became involved in an altercation with Guardian US reporter Ben Jacobs on Wednesday on the final day after campaigning after Jacobs asked him a question about the American Health Care Act, the plan to repeal and replace Obamacare.
The incident was witnessed by a Fox News crew, and recorded audio of it soon became available online.
Despite facing a charge of assault, Gianforte has nevertheless emerged victorious in the special election for the state’s vacant seat, formerly held by Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke.
Gianforte won the seat relatively comfortably with 50.6% of the vote compared with 43.6% for his nearest rival, Democrat Rob Quist.
At his acceptance speech in the city of Bozeman, Gianforte apologised to Jacobs:
“When you make a mistake, you have to own up to it, that’s the Montana way,” he said.
I should not have responded the way I did, for that I’m sorry. I should not have treated that reporter that way, and for that I’m sorry Mr Ben Jacobs.
Shouts from the crowd echoed back: “You’re forgiven.”
The election result is a major blow to Democrats – the race had been seen as something of a litmus-test for how badly the scandals of the Trump Administration were affecting Republican chances statewide.
In his victory speech, Gianforte spoke from much of the Trump playbook, saying that his was “a victory for our coal and timber families” which “sends a message to the Washington establishment that we will drain the swamp”.
Rural Montana is a reliably Republican state, having voted for the GOP in every election bar two since 1952.
Trump himself won the state in a landslide during the 2016 election, emerging victorious by over 20 points.
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Brilliant. Democracy in action. Reporter was way out of line.
@Shawn O’Ceallaghan: violence and assault has no place in democracy.
@Shawn O’Ceallaghan: for asking him about legislation that will leave over 20 million Americans without healthcare? How very dare he!
@Deborah Behan: is love to see Vincent Browne interview him!
@Shawn O’Ceallaghan: You were there?
@Shawn O’Ceallaghan: Are you taking the pish?
@Shawn O’Ceallaghan: Disgraceful comment and just shows you how low Trumptards will sink to defend anything. 70% of vote came in before that thug assaulted the reporter so it’s hardly democracy in action either.
@Bennythekid: You sure about that.
Isn’t his country “spreading” democracy right now in numerous countries in the middle east
@Bennythekid: Have no place
@Shawn O’Ceallaghan: I get it. It’s not actually that obscure that you’re joking.
@Deborah Behan: whereas in Ireland there is a section of society looking for legislation that will many millions of young Irish children without life ….
The article doesn’t mention that early voting meant that approximately two thirds of voters had already voted by the time the alleged incident occurred, which significantly reduced its impact. Also, the result still showed a 10% swing to Democrats – given this district hadn’t voted for a Democrat in 23 years (11 elections), it’s hardly a “major defeat”
@Brian Dunleavy:If I remember correctly Trump had about a 20 point gap in Montana during the election so that has been severely reduced not to mention that this guy is a bit of a poison chalice for the GOP given that he’ll be held up rightly or wrongly as the “type of thug” they now attract. Watch as well as any legitimate criticism of the type of violence at Berkeley is now countered with his name being brought up.
That Republican lad actually believes that dinosaurs rode in on Noah’s Ark ..#draintheark
@Clon Lad: Ya gotta admit it gives us something to laugh at in these darker times.
What’s sad is that vast sections of the American public are still buying the “drain the swamp” baloney.
@LynchTrea: drain the swamp can also refer to a reduction in government involvement in the daily lives of Americans. Less government is a staple vision of republicans. Sure the Irish public is all about reducing quango semi state bodies.
@Shawn O’Ceallaghan: Yea and look how well defunding the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement went in the FitzPatrick trial. You’re right “draining the swamp” is about crippling government agencies so that they can’t prosecute Trump’s cronies who commit crimes that Fitzpatrick allegedly did. You’re in favour of corporate crime being allowed to continue unfettered?
@Shawn O’Ceallaghan: You’re saying that the Republicans want less government in peoples lives, isn’t that correct ? So why do they still want to control women’s reproductive choices,even though it’s a legal right \O/
Trump minions are still the most adorable people on this planet of ours.
@Francis Mc Carthy: single issue vs big picture.
The hely Rae s said the same
Jasus boys when we git to the daal
We’ll drain the bog
A republican bodyslam?? . I can see it in a cocktail menu soon
Hulk Hogan would be proud
When you don’t like the message, kill the messenger.
“I won, oh and by the way I’ve been lying about that incident, I am guilty of assault and I will be taking your money to fight my case”
I don’t care what the journalist asked this was the behaviour of a thug. It will be a normal citizen asking a simple question next. Can you imagine an Irish politician doing this?
@Lisa Saputo: Have you heard of Frank Feighan ?
@Lisa Saputo: We cannot mention cases before the courts.
@Davin Ryan: why
@Davin Ryan: O yes, he was the FG politician that was harassed by mobs. A politician trapped by bad mannered reporters has to push his way to the door and then can be accused of pushing and it’s actually the obstructers that have engineered the situation.
Cameras everywhere and yet no video ? Did anything actually happen.?
@Tom Molloy: Or something did happen and the republican news outlets are choosing to protect him.
@Tom Molloy: there is an audio recording and statements from other Journalists
@Tom Molloy: everyone that was there including him agrees that it happened
@Cien Allura: This would be an irresistible photo opportunity and everyone has a camera phone. This is obviously another case of manufactured news.
@Cáit Ní Mheachair: Obviously something happened. Because of the collusion for none of the media to produce a photo never mind a video is it not more probable that the politician was roughed up and the story has been twisted by the “free press” mob.
@Tom Newnewman: You’re seriously brainwashed Tom. It’s frightening how people will deny documented fact.
@Dave O Keeffe: Sorry but the new norm is to disbelieve everything the Leftist Populist media say and every narrative they have created until they are fully checked out.
@Tom Newnewman: No Tom, it isn’t.
He said it happened.it happened…this is not a debate.
@Fozz: Two eggshell incident more likely.
@Cien Allura: and the 95% Democratic news services were asleep or looking the other way ?
@Tom Newnewman: Fox News confirmed it happened, FFS. No getting through to you apes.
@Philip Gerard: Confirmed something happened, but what ? , and why the media blackout of photos and videos ?. What are they hiding ?. Anyone who believes anything “reported”(invented) by the media without checking it out is a sad brainwashed lemming(sorry lemmings).
@Tom Newnewman: SAD!
Be careful as you drain the swamp Gianforte as Montezuma’s revenge is waiting for you in the long grass.
Slam Dunk for the Republicans.
American politics – first Trump now this guy. Politics in USA
I believe his take on draining will be akin to setting the grate one a mound of tarmac high enough to stop the water from reaching it until the place is flooded.
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