That decision came after the Guardian published an audio recording of the incident made by the reporter, Ben Jacobs. Greg Gianforte, the Republican candidate for Montana’s only House seat, sits in a vehicle in Bozeman after witnesses watched him body-slam a reporter a day before voting ends in a special election. By dawn on Election Day, the assault charge was the biggest political story in the Montana, and three of the state’s largest newspapers had pulled their endorsements — endorsements that the candidate had been touting in TV ads. “Greg Gianforte must immediately withdraw his candidacy after his alleged violent assault of an innocent journalist,” DCCC spokesman Tyler Law said. Some Democrats quietly fretted that the alleged assault would not change the race — or would help Gianforte with his base.

Source: Washington Post May 25, 2017 06:41 UTC