Hope the reporter had good health coverage.
Montana Cowgirl Blog features the story.
You cannot help but hope the situation blows off his chance at going to DC to try to nail down that eight hundred grand tax bonanza that the Ryancare cruelty was aimed to deliver to him and his class.
Poetic justice. And Quist is a poet, as well as a musician and song writer.
A ballad IS due on this story. It can be Montana lore for years.
What's vexing, he had the opportunity to do it to the Trump child.
UPDATE: It's catching.
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| CBS News screencapture click image to enlarge and read |
In light of Gianforte, wrap your mind around the image, "Pence goes on to slam House Democrats, specifically Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, ...".
FURTHER: YouTube posting of morning after reporting. Comprehensive. Montana newspapers withdrew their Ginaforte endorsement, at 0:25 or so in the video report.
FURTHER: Mother Jones has written it up, Gianforte appearing to lie about what happened:
The reporter, Ben Jacobs of the Guardian, had previously broken a major story about Gianforte's investments in Russian companies.
[...] According to audio of the encounter posted by the Guardian, Gianforte's outburst came after Jacobs asked him about the Congressional Budget Office's analysis of the GOP health care bill, which Gianforte had previously signaled he was supportive of. "I am sick and tired of you guys!," Gianforte can be heard shouting. "The last guy who came in here did the same thing. Get the hell out of here!"
In a statement, a Gianforte spokesman blamed Jacobs for the incident, asserting that Jacobs was responsible for "pushing them both to the ground."
Statement from Gianforte on @bencjacobs: "aggressive behavior from a liberal journalist"
— Holly Bailey (@hollybdc) May 25, 2017
[...] Update: Three members of the Fox News crew that was preparing to interview Gianforte when the incident happened have now corroborated Jacobs' account, and added some new details:
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 man, as he moved on top the reporter and began yelling something to the effect of "I'm sick and tired of this!"
After Jacobs left the room, Fox News' Alicia Acuna reported, "Gianforte looked at the three of us and repeatedly apologized."
[bolding and links in original, italics emphasis added] Gianforte is a large man, apparently a hot-head who cannot stand the heat per the Truman adage. The reporter was normal size, and obviously taken by surprise in that candidates do not usually assault reporters, it's a rare thing.
AND THEN THE GIANFORTE CAMPAIGN LIED ABOUT IT.
WORSENING AN ALREADY BAD SHOWING. UNACCEPTABLE.
.................................
FURTHER: An online law enforcement press conference noted five eyewitnesses. That includes, apparently, Ginanforte as perpetrator, the Guardian reporter as victim, and the three FOX employees as independent eyewitnesses who noted Gianforte's conduct, per the MJ quote above. If so, no Ginaforte staffer was present.
Why misdemeanor assault? Why not felony? It seems questionable charging. Apparently at the time of that press conference prosecutors had not filed any charge, per the officer's response to a specific question.
Next, a Guardian Report filed by the victim of the Gianforte assault, prior to the assault. Read it all. Judge for yourself: Is there any provocative bias to it that would inspire a viscous attack? The man seems too tightly wound when there's some pressure, to be one earning voter respect. Certainly assaulting an unsuspecting victim is not anything to respect. It's like sucker punching someone, but less injury appears to have ensued. It appears no head injury was caused, which is always the worry if being unsuspectingly felled to the ground. CNN in a panel discussion compare audio of the situation with a statement issued the press by Gianforte operatives, and it is not a favorable comparison for the Gianforte prepared statement, truth being the question. FOX eyewitnesses clearly stated there was no provocation.
The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that there was probable cause to issue a citation, but the nature of the injuries “did not meet the statutory elements of a felony assault.”
Still, the incident sent shockwaves across the country and resulted in three key Montana newspapers taking back their earlier endorsements. [...]
The incident occurred Wednesday evening when a Fox News team was scheduled to interview Gianforte at his campaign headquarters. The [three person FOX] team said Ben Jacobs, the reporter from The Guardian, pressed Gianforte about the newly released Congressional Budget Office report on the American Health Care Act.
Gianforte told Jacobs to talk to his press officer. At some point, Gianforte grabbed Jacobs by the neck with both hands and slammed him into the ground, according to witnesses.
The crew watched Gianforte punch the reporter. As Gianforte moved on top of Jacobs, he began yelling something to the effect of, “I'm sick and tired of this!” [...]
Federal records show that the Gallatin County sheriff donated $250 to Gianforte's congressional campaign in March. In his statement, Sheriff Brian Gootkin confirmed the donation, but said, "This contribution has nothing to do with our investigation, which is now complete."
Gianforte is scheduled to appear in Gallatin County Justice Court between Wednesday night and June 7. He would face a maximum $500 fine or six months in jail if convicted.
[link in original, italics added] Montana law would determine whether the unprovoked nature of the assault and the language used established intent to cause severe bodily harm, and according to the story the degree of actual ensuing bodily injury is a factor in a choice between misdemeanor vs felony charges. The Sheriff's office appears to have issued a citation, with it unclear whether this was with or without prior consultation with a prosecuting attorney; nor has any campaign contribution by prosecuting authorities been reported, either way. Details linger, but an unprovoked assault is what it is, and instability under pressure is a disadvantageous trait for any office seeker. From all things report, he derserves maximum fine and jail time, in my view; which had it been Quist breaking loose that way, would be the same. Opinions on that can differ. Again, really, why not felony assault remains unclear.
FURTHER: DCCC has prepared a "What happens when you ask Greg Gianforte a Question" ad; linked to and/or embedded on the latest Cowgirl post.
FURTHER: Direct URL for the new DCCC ad. It is a negative ad, true, but he earned it beyond any doubt. It is interesting the pro-GG trolls are absent today from Cowgirl blog posting. Quelled enthusiasm, or just sound judgment as with the withdrawn press endorsements?
FURTHER: The Atlantic [links in original]:
The citation for assault was an eleventh-hour twist in a race where as many as two-thirds of the ballots had already been cast. Several of the state’s largest newspapers, including The Billings Gazette, The Missoulian, and The Helena Independent Record withdrew their endorsements of Gianforte. “This incident is not Montana. It's not America,” said the Gazette. “It's not who we are, and attacking — literally — those with whom we disagree cannot be justified, tolerated or explained away.”
My nickle bets the guy will not be honorable and drop the contest. He's got eight hundred thousand reasons to regret but stay; each a dollar; each a part of the tax break Ryan's Cruelcare which, if passed, would have yielded him. A piece of work.
FURTHER: FOX gives us: Minneapolis mayor Hodges gave her State-of-the-State speech in a mosque because of a belief that "the city's Muslim community is under attack from the Trump administration." FOX town scold Hegseth posed the hypothetical to the mayor, "... would you do it in a church?" He should pose that question to Gianforte. There in front of the alter and the Cross on the wall. WHAM? Knocking over an incense censer? Scattering alter boys who wonder, does me mean for us to "Get the hell out?"