montana republican congressman-elect greg gianforte expect next week enter plea contest plea guilty misdemeanor assault accuse attack reporter eve election prosecutor say thursday gianforte appear court bozeman monday schedule sentence day enter plea gallatin county attorney marty lambert say phone altercation portray illustration new toxicity american politics critics president donald trump say strident criticism media encourage violence journalists supporters say many reporters overly aggressive disrespectful montana law conviction misdemeanor assault carry maximum sentence six months jail lambert decline say office would recommend jail time attorney gianforte decline comment gianforte technology executive pledge letter wednesday donate 50,000 committee protect journalists apologize reporter ben jacobs accuse gianforte assault may 24. gianforte montana lone seat u.s. house representatives special election next day jacobs political correspondent u.s. edition guardian newspaper say gianforte body-slammed break eyeglasses reporter pose question healthcare campaign event bozeman gianforte hear shout get hell sick tire guy audio record incident play repeatedly cable news television gianforte campaign initially suggest jacobs instigate incident barge candidate office shove record device face prepare tv interview letter apology jacobs issue wednesday gianforte say physical response legitimate question unprofessional unacceptable unlawful return gianforte apology charitable donation jacobs agree bring civil action congressman-elect jacobs gianforte request also send email lambert say would object gianforte plead contest misdemeanor assault accord release liability document sign jacobs lambert say office could still insist gianforte plead guilty instead plead contest either event plea would trigger gianforte sentence lambert previously say additional serious criminal charge could bring case say thursday review evidence discuss matter jacobs prosecutor decide misdemeanor charge appropriate gianforte defeat democrat rob quist fill house seat vacate trump appoint ryan zinke interior secretary expect swear late month montana congressman-elect sentence altercation reporter