Reporter Alleges That Republican Candidate "Body Slammed" Him

Republican congressional candidate Greg Gianforte.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

BOZEMAN, Montana — A Montana congressional candidate allegedly body-slammed a reporter at a campaign event Wednesday night, sparking last-minute drama on the eve of a special election to fill the state's only seat in the US House of Representatives.

Ben Jacobs, a reporter for The Guardian, tweeted around 7 p.m. that Republican candidate Greg Gianforte "body slammed" him, breaking his glasses.

The alleged incident took place at a campaign meet-and-greet in Bozeman after Jacobs entered a room where Gianforte was preparing for an interview with a local television station. What happened next is still unclear, but reporters at the event heard a crash, and saw Jacobs fall to the floor.

Immediately following the incident, aides appeared to escort Jacobs out of the room, and then entered a private room with the candidate. Eventually, police and first responders arrived on the scene, and Jacobs was reportedly taken in an ambulance to be treated for his injuries.

Both Gianforte and his campaign staff left the venue shortly after the incident.

The campaign did not return BuzzFeed News' requests for comment. But in a statement, campaign spokesman Shane Scanlon blamed "aggressive behavior from a liberal journalist."

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."

Source BuzzFeed - Politics http://ift.tt/2rS9LDo