CNN’s Chris Cuomo invited Rep. Greg Gianforte (R-MT) to body slam him after President Trump praised the Republican congressman at a rally this week for assaulting a reporter.
Trump Praises Congressman Who Assaulted Reporter
President Trump praised Rep. Greg Gianforte’s (R-MT) body slamming a reporter in 2017, saying that anyone who did such a thing was “my kind of guy,” Politico reports.
Said Trump:” “Never wrestle him, you understand that? Any guy who can do a body slam is my kind of guy.”
He added: “I was in Rome with a lot of the leaders from other countries talking about all sorts of things and I heard about it, and we endorsed Greg very early, but I heard that he had body slammed a reporter. And he was way up, and he was up, and this was like the day of the election or just before, and I said, ‘Oh, this is terrible, he is going to lose the election, and then I said, ‘Well, wait a minute, I know Montana pretty well, I think it might help him. And it did.’”
Gianforte Offers Private Plane to Daines
Rep. Greg Gianforte’s (R-MT) private plane could make it possible for Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) to be in two places at once Saturday, Roll Call reports.
“Daines plans to walk his daughter Annie down the aisle for her wedding in Bozman, Montana on the same night his yea vote may be required for Republicans to approve Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court.”
Said Daines: “My good friend and colleague Greg Gianforte has come to save the day. He’s offered me use of his plane. I appreciate his generosity as well as his dedication to family and country.”
Trump Calls Gianforte a ‘Fighter’
President Trump appeared to make light of Rep. Greg Gianforte’s (R-MT) assault on a reporter last year at a rally in Montana, Politico reports.
Said Trump: “I’ll tell you what: This man has fought — in more ways than one — for your state. He has fought for your state. Greg Gianforte. He is a fighter and a winner.”
Gianforte’s Apology Contradicts What He Told Police
“Documents released by law enforcement officials in Montana show that Greg Gianforte, then the Republican candidate in the state’s special congressional election, told police in May that a reporter from the Guardian had grabbed his wrist during a physical altercation at his campaign headquarters, blaming the ‘liberal media’ for ‘trying to make a story,'” the Washington Post reports.
“His statement appears to contradict the apology he later issued to Ben Jacobs, saying the reporter ‘did not initiate any physical contact with me,’ raising questions about whether the congressman was truthful with authorities.”
Gianforte Sentenced for ‘Body Slamming’ Reporter
Rep.-elect Greg Gianforte (R-MT) admitted a charge of misdemeanor assault for “body slamming” a reporter on the eve of his election, the Billings Gazette reports.
Judge Rick West “ordered Gianforte to complete 20 hours of anger management counseling and 40 hours of community service. He was given a deferred 6-month jail sentence. If he does not violate the conditions of his sentence, the charge will be dismissed.”
Gianforte Will Plead Guilty to Assault
Rep.-elect Greg Gianforte (R-MT) “will plead guilty to assaulting a reporter the day before being elected the state’s only congressman last month,” the AP reports.
“The Republican technology entrepreneur will enter his plea in court on Monday, when he is scheduled to be arraigned and sentenced on the misdemeanor charge.”
Gianforte Charged With Assault Day Before Election
Greg Gianforte (R), the Republican candidate in a hotly contested special House election in Montana, “was charged with assaulting a journalist on Wednesday at what was to be a final rally in Bozeman on the eve of the vote,” the New York Times reports.
“Three of the state’s largest newspapers, The Billings Gazette, The Missoulian and The Helena Independent Record, quickly rescinded their endorsements of Mr. Gianforte. But prospects that the altercation could tip the race to the Democrat, Rob Quist, were complicated by Montana’s early-voting tradition: Over half the estimated total ballots in the contest had been returned by Wednesday.”
The eyewitness account by Fox News reporters is really remarkable.
Montana Candidate Caught on Tape Praising Health Bill
“When Greg Gianforte (R), the Republican running for an open House seat in Montana, was asked on Thursday whether he would have supported the bill repealing the Affordable Care Act that passed the House that day, he declined to answer,” the New York Times reports.
But on the same day, during a private conference call with Republican-leaning lobbyists in Washington, Gianforte offered a more supportive view of the health bill: “The votes in the House are going to determine whether we get tax reform done, sounds like we just passed a health care thing, which I’m thankful for, sounds like we’re starting to repeal and replace.”
Taegan Goddard
Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire -- which for more than two decades has been one of the nation's most influential political news sites.
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