I disagree based on the audio both version the reporters and Gianforte are perfectly plausible. Eyewitness or video is going to a lot more valuable than the audio tape.
Only if there is preceding audio we are missing, because the reporter was not asked to lower his mic or leave and Gianforte escalated to violence basically without warning.
Not that violence would be justified even WITH a warning.
Sheriffs Office press briefing livestream supposed to start in 5-10 minutes (Facebook, sorry!): https://www.facebook.com/dailychronicle/
What? We don’t hear anyone asking Jacobs to leave. We also don’t hear Gianforte ask the reporter to remove the allegedly intrusive phone, or anything. In fact, it sounds like a normal interview up until the part where we’re supposed to believe that the reporter grabs at the candidate and does a kung-fu move, which causes both to accidentally fall to the ground. And at that point Gianforte is screaming like a WWF wrestler,
but that’s because he fell down, and not because he body-slammed the reporter?
But it’s ok, because we’ll wait for Gianforte’s campaign staffers to act as corroborating eyewitnesses?
Dude. Weak.
Well Fox News team backs up Ben’s story, so I guess Gianforte is spending the night in jail?
night, year, whatevs
Apparently the sheriff is a donor to Gianforte
I bet nothing happens and he wins the election tomorrow.
Prove me wrong, kids!
I bet that Trump lauds him as a hero during a shit-tweet sometime during the next 6 hours.
I suspect both are likely true.
Again, 250,000 votes, 2/3rds of expected total, already cast.
It would be amazing if he won, then got arrested, and they had to have another special election.
Edit: Removed snark.
Here’s an account from Fox News (local I assume) journalists:
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.
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!”
Sheriff Gootkin: “So I will not be answering any questions about the incident at all. With that, do you have questions?”
Any question this is going to get worse?
You go, girl.
As some poli sci folks have noted tonight, the Gianforte incident pretty much eliminates this race from giving us much useful bellwether clues (not that it was going to really do that much anyway, but still, a bit).
If Gianforte wins big, it’s because of all the early vote.
If Gianforte wins small, it’s because of the assault.
Gianforte has been cited for misdemeanor assault.
Wtf does it take to get a felony? A shanking?