HELENA, Mont. (AP) – Newly elected U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte of Montana issued an apology letter Wednesday and said he plans to donate money to a journalism advocacy organization as part of a settlement agreement with a reporter he is accused of assaulting.
In exchange, Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs agreed not to sue Gianforte over the attack, and he will not object to Gianforte entering a “no contest” plea to the misdemeanor assault charge the Republican faces from the May 24 encounter.
Jacobs tried to ask Gianforte about the Congressional Budget Office’s analysis of the Republican health care bill as Gianforte was preparing for a television interview. Gianforte, according to Jacobs at the time, “body slammed” him to the ground and broke his glasses. Gianforte then told Jacobs to “get the hell out of here,” according to an audio recording by Jacobs.
That night, Gianforte was charged with assault. The next day, Gianforte defeated Democrat Rob Quist to win the special congressional election to replace Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke as Montana’s only congressman. Gianforte is expected to be sworn in later this month.
Gianforte’s letter says he takes full responsibility for the encounter and that Jacobs was just doing his job.