GOP candidate allegedly 'body slams' Guardian reporter

[AirPo]

When FOX turns on a Republican, you know he screwed up.

Late Wednesday, Fox News correspondent Alicia Acuna reported that she and her crew witnessed the incident and saw Gianforte grab Jacobs "by the neck with both hands and slammed him into the ground behind him."

"To be clear, at no point did any of us who witnessed this assault see Jacobs show any form of physical aggression toward Gianforte," Acuna wrote.

Full story here -->

 

[Mountain_Girl406]

My state, and I've been following this all evening. What a bizarre ending. I give lots of props to Quist, who gave a very measured response, stating it was a law enforcement matter.

 

[JonFromMinnesota]

He's been cited for misdemeanor assault. I bet he'll still win tomorrow

 

[Mountain_Girl406]

Two of the three newspapers that endorsed him just pulled their endorsements, and I suspect the third will follow suit.

 

[JonFromMinnesota]

Two of the three newspapers that endorsed him just pulled their endorsements, and I suspect the third will follow suit.

What is the voting turnout expected to be? Do you think this incident leads to his loss? He was leading the polls, wasn't he?

 

[Mountain_Girl406]

What is the voting turnout expected to be? Do you think this incident leads to his loss? He was leading the polls, wasn't he?

He was leading early, but the gap narrowed enough for many to think Quist could win.
The thing is there are already lots of absentee ballots in which in Montana can't be changed. But this could tip the scales to Quist. Tomorrow will be an interesting day

 

[Aryeh Jay]

Republican’s don’t take no guff from foreign reporters. We need 435 more of him! Make America Great!

 

[KCfromNC]

Yep. This wouldn't be an issue if he'd just follow Trump's lead and restrict his interviews to Russian reporters.

 

[AirPo]

House Speaker Paul Ryan said Montana GOP candidate Greg Gianforte "should apologize" for allegedly body-slamming a reporter last night.

"There's no call for this," Ryan said, "under any circumstance."

 

[Mountain_Girl406]

Greg Gianforte's assault charge puts Republicans in a lose-lose situation in Montana - CNNPolitics.com

Interesting perspective on the conundrum the GOP faces if Gianforte still manages to win

 

[381465]

That man has issues.
He needs a big time out.

 

[MoonlessNight]

Wonder if we'll get audio of this, considering that in the story given Gianforte explicitly was said to be in possession of a voice recorder.

I'm guessing not though. For some reason documentation beyond hearsay seems to be mysteriously hard to come by in cases like this.

 

[Goonie]

Wonder if we'll get audio of this, considering that in the story given Gianforte explicitly was said to be in possession of a voice recorder.

I'm guessing not though. For some reason documentation beyond hearsay seems to be mysteriously hard to come by in cases like this.

Yes there is audio.
Newspapers ditch Republican charged with assaulting Guardian reporter

It's included in this article.

 

[Mountain_Girl406]

Wonder if we'll get audio of this, considering that in the story given Gianforte explicitly was said to be in possession of a voice recorder.

I'm guessing not though. For some reason documentation beyond hearsay seems to be mysteriously hard to come by in cases like this.

The audio was running on the news last night and this morning.
I see it's already been posted.

 

[MoonlessNight]

The audio is obviously truncated and does not cover the whole affair. In particular, all accounts describe Jacobs asking questions about health care legislation after producing the recorder, but this does not appear in the recording.

I have learned from the LiveAction videos that if even a second is cut from a recording, this means that it has been dishonestly edited and therefore cannot be trusted.

 

[Mountain_Girl406]

The audio is obviously truncated and does not cover the whole affair. In particular, all accounts describe Jacobs asking questions about health care legislation after producing the recorder, but this does not appear in the recording.

I have learned from the LiveAction videos that if even a second is cut from a recording, this means that it has been dishonestly edited and therefore cannot be trusted.

You can hear the question about health care on the recording, at least in the version I heard.

 

[Mountain_Girl406]

Here's the transcript with links to the audio including the health care question.
A Transcript of the Greg Gianforte ‘Body-Slam’ Audio

 

[AirPo]

Wonder if we'll get audio of this, considering that in the story given Gianforte explicitly was said to be in possession of a voice recorder.

I'm guessing not though. For some reason documentation beyond hearsay seems to be mysteriously hard to come by in cases like this.

We already have.

 

[pakicetus]

Here's the transcript with links to the audio including the health care question.
A Transcript of the Greg Gianforte ‘Body-Slam’ Audio

Plus this is how three Fox News reporters who witnessed it described what happened:

[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!"

Jacobs scrambled to his knees and said something about his glasses being broken. He asked Faith, Keith and myself for our names. In shock, we did not answer. Jacobs then said he wanted the police called and went to leave. Gianforte looked at the three of us and repeatedly apologized. At that point, I told him and Scanlon, who was now present, that we needed a moment. The men then left.

To be clear, at no point did any of us who witnessed this assault see Jacobs show any form of physical aggression toward Gianforte, who left the area after giving statements to local sheriff's deputies.

Fox News is a reactionary organization that half of Republicans say is their main news source. I don't think three Fox News reporters would lie to hurt a Republican candidate.

 

[pakicetus]

Strange to see some self-described supporters of "law and order" defend illegal violence.