BOZEMAN, Mont. (CN) – Montana Congressman-elect Greg Gianforte pleaded guilty Monday to misdemeanor charges that he body-slammed a Guardian reporter on the eve of his special election victory, agreeing to community service and avoiding jail time.
Gianforte, a Republican, defeated Democrat Rob Quist by a narrow margin May 24 to win Montana's single seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Gianforte, 56, is expected to be sworn in later this month.
On the night before the special election, Gianforte reportedly threw Ben Jacobs, a reporter for The Guardian, to the floor at Gianforte's campaign headquarters in Bozeman, Mont.
Jacobs had asked Gianforte a question about President Donald Trump's health care policy when Gianforte allegedly grabbed Jacobs by the wrists and threw him to the ground.
On Monday, Bozeman Municipal Judge Rick West ordered Gianforte to complete 40 hours of community service and 20 hours of anger-management classes. He was also fined $385.
If Gianforte doesn’t violate the terms of his sentence in six months, he can file a motion with the judge to have the case dismissed.
Speaking at the sentencing Monday in Bozeman municipal court, Jacobs said the incident began with his attempt to ask Gianforte about the Congressional Budget Office’s cost estimate for the Republican health care bill, dubbed the American Health Care Act.
“I have asked questions of hundreds of politicians: congressmen, senators and even the man who is now our president,” Jacobs said in the courtroom. “Mr. Gianforte’s response was to slam me to the floor and start punching me.”
Gianforte’s actions “thrust me into a national spotlight I did not seek or desire,” Jacobs said.
Gianforte initially denied causing the assault, and his spokesperson said after the incident it was actually Jacobs who instigated the incident. In a letter to Jacobs dated June 1, Gianforte retracted his accusation that it was Jacobs who started the confrontation.
As part of a settlement with Jacobs last week, Gianforte said he would donate $50,000 to a journalism advocacy group and would enter a no-contest plea at the sentencing.
In a press conference after the sentencing, Gianforte, with his wife Susan at his side, told reporters he had personally apologized to Jacobs.
“He has accepted my apology and I’m grateful for that,” the representative-elect said. “I look for to putting this behind me. I look forward to going to work in Washington. I'm excited to get to work.”
Gianforte said he accepts the sentence, which kept him out of jail and allowed him to avoid having to take a booking photo.
“This is not a proud moment,” he said. “Susan and I have raised our family in this community. It’s important to understand the work we’ve done and the people we’ve interacted with. People who work with me know me. I acted in a way that isn’t consistent with my behavior in the past.”
In Jacobs' recording of the May 24 interview, which was posted on The Guardian's website, Gianforte can be heard yelling at Jacobs before crashing sounds. Jacobs can be heard saying his glasses were broken and he wanted to call the police.
