BOZEMAN, MT (RNN) – A reporter for The Guardian said he was body slammed by a candidate for Congress.
Ben Jacobs, a political reporter, was asking Greg Gianforte about the Republican healthcare plan.
“Let me talk to you about that later,” Gianforte said.
Jacobs continued to ask his question.
“Speak with Shane, please,” Gianforte replied.
A crashing sound is then heard on audio of the incident captured by Jacobs.
“I’m sick and tired of you guys. The last guy who came in here did the same thing,” Gianforte said, before repeating “Get the hell out of here” several times.
“You just broke my glasses,” Jacobs said.
The Guardian said the incident happened at Gianforte’s campaign headquarters.
Buzzfeed reporter Alexis Levinson was at the headquarters.
She said she didn’t see the entire incident, but did corroborate that she “heard a giant crash and saw Ben’s feet fly in the air as he hit the look.”
“Ben walked out holding his broken glasses in his hand and said ‘he just bodyslammed me,’” she tweeted.
The Gianforte campaign claimed, in a statement, that Jacobs entered a private office without permission.
“Tonight, as Greg was giving a separate interview in a private office, The Guardian’s Ben Jacobs entered the office without permission, aggressively shoved a recorder in Greg’s face, and began asking badgering questions. Jacobs was asked to leave. After asking Jacobs to lower the recorder, Jacobs declined. 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. It’s unfortunate that this aggressive behavior from a liberal journalist created this scene at our campaign volunteer BBQ.”
Gianforte is running for the seat vacant when Rep. Ryan Zinke became head of the Department of the Interior.
Local media reported the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Department is looking into the incident.
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