Reporter accuses Republican candidate of assault

By Justin Mitchell 

Montana Republican congressional candidate Greg Gianforte was accused of physically assaulting a reporter on the campaign trail on yesterday.

The incident is alleged to have happened on the eve of a special election to fill the state's lone seat in the US House of Representatives.

Ben Jacobs, a political correspondent for the US edition of The Guardian newspaper, said in a Twitter post that Gianforte had "body slammed" him, breaking the reporter's glasses, at a campaign event in Bozeman.

"There was a local TV crew there when Gianforte body slammed me. Audio is posting soon @GuardianUS," Jacobs tweeted.

‘Aggressive liberal journalist’

The allegation could not be immediately confirmed, but the candidate countered that Jacobs had instigated an altercation.

Gianforte's campaign issued a statement saying a physical confrontation with Jacobs occurred when the reporter entered the candidate's office "without permission, aggressively shoved a recorder in Greg's face and began asking badgering questions."

"After asking Jacobs to lower the recorder, Jacobs declined," the written statement from campaign spokesman Shane Scanlon said.

"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."

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

CNN played an audio recording purporting to have captured the sound of the incident, in which a voice believed to be that of Gianforte is heard yelling: "I'm sick and tired of you guys... the last guy did the same damned thing."

After loud scuffling noises are heard, the voice yells: "Get the hell out of here," and another voice, presumably that of Jacobs, is heard saying that Gianforte had just broken his glasses.

The Gallatin County Sheriff's Office said in a statement it "is currently investigating allegations of an assault involving Greg Gianforte. We will provide a press release with more information when appropriate. The investigation is ongoing."