Republican congressional candidate 'body slams' reporter

WASHINGTON: A Republican running for Congress in Montana "body slammed" a reporter for The Guardian newspaper on Wednesday, breaking his glasses, the journalist said.

The altercation between Greg Gianforte and reporter Ben Jacobs took place at a campaign event at Gianforte's headquarters in the city of Bozeman, Montana, the Guardian said. He is running for the state's only congressional seat in a special election set for Thursday.



"Greg Gianforte just body slammed me and broke my glasses," Jacobs tweeted.

Greg Gianforte just body slammed me and broke my glasses

— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) May 24, 2017

The attack took place after Jacobs asked a question about health care.
Jacobs posted audio of the incident in which Gianforte appears to say "The last time you came in here you did the same thing. Get the hell out of here!"

Others at the event corroborated the version of events.

"Ben walked into a room where a local TV crew was set up for an interview with Gianforte," BuzzFeed reporter Alexis Levinson tweeted. "All of a sudden I heard a giant crash and saw Ben's feet fly in the air as he hit the floor."

So I was there for this - still am https://t.co/tgjOCYErFi

— Alexis Levinson (@alexis_levinson) May 24, 2017

Fox News crew witnessed it—says Gianforte grabbed @Bencjacobs by the neck, slammed him to the ground and punched him https://t.co/f8gkvLV4oU pic.twitter.com/VSeOLTlpYE

— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) May 25, 2017

Gianforte's campaign issued a statement saying the incident took place when the candidate was giving a separate interview in a private office.

"The Guardian's Ben Jacobs entered the office without permission, aggressively shoved a recorder in Greg's face, and began asking badgering questions," the statement said. "Jacobs was asked to leave. After asking Jacobs to lower the recorder, Jacobs declined. Greg then attempted to grab the phone that was pushed in his face. Jacobs grabbed Greg's wrist, and spun away from Greg, pushing them both to the ground."

Press release. PHOTO: TWITTER

"It's unfortunate that this aggressive behaviour from a liberal journalist created this scene at our campaign volunteer BBQ."

On Jacobs's audio, Gianforte is not heard asking him to lower his microphone. When Jacobs asks for the names of those present, saying he will go to the police, he is told, "you gotta leave."

Watch the video here: