Story highlights Gianforte pledges $50,000 to the Committee to Protect Journalists

He sent Guardian reporter an apology letter Wednesday

(CNN) Greg Gianforte, the Montana congressman-elect who is accused of "body slamming" a Guardian reporter, sent a letter of apology and will plead no contest to the misdemeanor assault charge, according to documents.

Gianforte also pledged to donate $50,000 to the Committee to Protect Journalists, an organization that promotes press freedom, as part of a settlement with the journalist, Ben Jacobs, "in the hope that perhaps some good can come of these events."

The events referred to an encounter on May 24, when Gianforte was charged with misdemeanor assault after Jacobs accused the politician of "body slamming" him at a campaign event.

Gianforte, a Republican, won the election the next day and apologized to the reporter during his acceptance speech.

On Wednesday, he issued a letter to Jacobs.

Read More</s>As Twitchy reported, word is that Republicans are planning to make the 2018 elections a referendum on the media, tapping into “public hatred of reporters” to win votes.

To be certain, some were less than sympathetic when Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs tweeted that he’d been body-slammed by then-candidate Greg Gianforte in Montana. All eyes turned to the special election there, with quite a few journalists unhappy to hear from voters that the incident hadn’t affected their votes.

At least in this particular instance, things seem to have been smoothed over. Greg Gianforte on Wednesday issued an apology to the Guardian’s Ben Jacobs, who accepted. Gianforte also contributed $50,000 to the Committee to Protect Journalists.</s>Montana Congressman-elect Greg Gianforte has penned a lengthy apology to the reporter he assaulted on the night before his election, describing his actions as "unprofessional, unacceptable, and unlawful." Gianforte also said he would donate $50,000 to the Committee to Protect Journalists.



Ben Jacobs, the Guardian journalist who was "body slammed" by Gianforte last month, received the letter on Wednesday as part of an agreement that settles any potential civil claims, the Guardian reported. Gianforte still faces criminal charges.

“I have accepted Mr. Gianforte's apology and his willingness to take responsibility for his actions and statements," Jacobs said in a statement sent to BuzzFeed News. "I hope the constructive resolution of this incident reinforces for all the importance of respecting the freedom of the press and the First Amendment and encourages more civil and thoughtful discourse in our country."



The incident took place on May 24 at a campaign meet-and-greet in Bozeman after Ben Jacobs asked Gianforte a question about healthcare. Jacobs tweeted that he was "body slammed," breaking his glasses.



“My physical response to your legitimate question was unprofessional, unacceptable, and unlawful,” Gianforte wrote in a letter to Jacobs, which was shared with BuzzFeed News. “As both a candidate for office and a public official, I should be held to a high standard in my interactions with the press and the public. My treatment of you did not meet that standard.”

Gianforte said the $50,000 donation to the CPJ, an independent non-profit that promotes press freedom and defends the rights of journalists, was made "in the hope that perhaps some good can come of these events."

The congressman-elect's campaign initially blamed "aggressive behavior from a liberal journalist" for the assault, but audio of the incident recorded by Jacobs and Fox News reporters who witnessed the event, contradicted the claim.

"Gianforte grabbed Jacobs by the neck with both hands and slammed him into the ground behind him," reporter Alicia Acuna wrote on Fox News' website.



That night, Gianforte was charged with assault. If found guilty, he could face up to six months in jail or a $500 fine. The next day, he won the election against Democratic candidate Rob Quist with 50.2% of the vote. The Missoulian reported that two-thirds of the ballots were sent by mail before the assault occurred.

At his victory party, Gianforte apologized for his actions, but did not address his campaign's false statements about the incident. Wednesday's letter seemed to address it: “Notwithstanding anyone’s statements to the contrary, you did not initiate any physical contact with me, and I had no right to assault you...I take full responsibility."

The Guardian reported that as part of the settlement Jacobs had signed a release foregoing any civil claim against Gianforte because of the donation.</s>(JTA) — Republican congressman-elect Greg Gianforte of Montana has apologized for body slamming a Jewish reporter for The Guardian, a London-based newspaper, on the eve of a special election.

Gianforte late on Wednesday also announced a $50,000 donation to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

“My physical response to your legitimate question was unprofessional, unacceptable, and unlawful,” Gianforte wrote in a letter to reporter Ben Jacobs, as part of an agreement that settles any potential civil claims, according to the Guardian. “As both a candidate for office and a public official, I should be held to a high standard in my interactions with the press and the public. My treatment of you did not meet that standard.”

The letter also said: “Notwithstanding anyone’s statements to the contrary, you did not initiate any physical contact with me, and I had no right to assault you. I am sorry for what I did and the unwanted notoriety this has created for you. I take full responsibility.”

Gianforte still faces criminal charges of misdemeanor assault over the altercation. He faces a maximum $500 fine or six months in jail if convicted. He had been scheduled to appear in Gallatin County justice court by June 7 but was granted an extension until June 20, the Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported on Wednesday.

The incident involving Gianforte, a tech millionaire who is endorsed by President Donald Trump, and Jacobs, occurred on March 24, hours before the opening of the polls for a special election to fill the seat held by Ryan Zinke, who was named secretary of the interior by Trump.

Jacobs, who had been covering the candidate for several weeks, asked Gianforte a question about the Republican health care plan before being attacked, according to the Guardian. In April, Jacobs reported on Gianforte’s financial ties to Russian companies sanctioned by the United States. Gianforte’s wealth is estimated at $65 million to $315 million, according to The Guardian. He lost in his bid for governor last year. He ran for Congress against Democratic folk musician Rob Quist .

Jacob’s glasses were broken in the attack. A crowdfunding campaign to replace them raised more than $7,500, which Jacobs had requested be donated to the Committee to Protect Journalists. His glasses were donated to the Newseum, a museum in Washington, D.C., dedicated to journalism, at the request of the museum.

Jacobs, who grew up in the Baltimore area, is a graduate of Grinnell College and has a law degree from Duke University. Before joining The Guardian in 2015, he worked at the Daily Beast. In April 2015, Jacobs wrote a humorous piece for The Guardian offering tips for those attending their first Passover Seder.</s>HELENA, Mont. – U.S. Rep.-elect Greg Gianforte of Montana says in an apology letter that he “had no right to assault” a reporter.

Gianforte’s letter to reporter Ben Jacobs of The Guardian dated Wednesday is part of a settlement with Jacobs in which the reporter agrees not to object to Gianforte entering a plea of “no contest” to a misdemeanour assault charge.

The Republican will contribute $50,000 to the Committee to Protect Journalists as part of the settlement agreement.

Jacobs says he hopes the episode will reinforce respect for freedom of the press and encourage more civil discourse.

Jacobs previously said he was “body slammed” by Gianforte on the day before the May 25 special congressional election in Montana when the reporter tried to ask him a question.

Gianforte won the election and was charged with misdemeanour assault.</s>Montana congressman-elect Greg Gianforte, who was charged with a misdemeanor after allegedly slamming Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs to the ground for asking a question, has apologized to the reporter and announced a donation to the Committee to Protect Journalists.</s>Greg Gianforte, the Montana congressman-elect who is accused of “body slamming” a Guardian reporter, sent a letter of apology and will plead no contest to the misdemeanor assault charge, according to documents.

Gianforte also pledged to donate $50,000 to the Committee to Protect Journalists, an organization that promotes press freedom, as part of a settlement with the journalist, Ben Jacobs, “in the hope that perhaps some good can come of these events.”

The events referred to an encounter on May 24, when Gianforte was charged with misdemeanor assault after Jacobs accused the politician of “body slamming” him at a campaign event.

Gianforte, a Republican, won the election the next day and apologized to the reporter during his acceptance speech.

On Wednesday, he issued a letter to Jacobs.

“My physical response to your legitimate question was unprofessional, unacceptable, and unlawful. As both a candidate for Office and a public official, I should be held to a high standard in my interactions with the press and the public. My treatment of you did not meet that standard.”

“I made a mistake and humbly ask for your forgiveness,” the letter stated.

“I have accepted Mr. Gianforte’s apology and his willingness to take responsibility for his actions and statements,” he said in a statement. “I hope the constructive resolution of this incident reinforces for all the importance of respecting the freedom of the press and the First Amendment and encourages more civil and thoughtful discourse in our country.”

Gianforte is scheduled to appear in a Montana court on June 20, to face the misdemeanor assault charge.

During their encounter at Gianforte’s campaign headquarters in Bozeman last month, Jacobs had been asking the then-candidate about the Republican healthcare plan when the alleged assault took place.

Gianforte’s campaign initially blamed the altercation on Jacobs’ “aggressive behavior” and offered a version of events at odds with the audio recording and witnesses.

In Wednesday’s letter, Gianforte stated: “I had no right to respond the way did to your legitimate question about healthcare policy. You were doing your job.”

The Committee to Protect Journalists said it appreciated the congressman-elect’s donation.

“We are heartened to see that the congressman has issued an apology and recognizes that violence against journalists is unacceptable,” said Courtney Radsch, the group’s advocacy director.</s>Greg Gianforte, the Montana Republican elected last month to the state's open House seat following a physical brawl with journalist Ben Jacobs, has apologized over the incident and pledged to give $50,000 to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

"I write to express my sincere apology for my conduct on the evening of May 24," Gianforte wrote in an email to Jacobs, a reporter for the Guardian, which first reported on Gianforte's attempt to reconcile. He was alleged to have "body-slammed" Jacobs and broken his glasses after being asked about his stance on healthcare .

"My physical response to your legitimate question was unprofessional, unacceptable, and unlawful," he wrote, adding that his interaction with Jacobs didn't meet the "high standard" someone in his position should be held to.

"Notwithstanding anyone's statements to the contrary, you did not initiate any physical contact with me, and I had no right to assault you," Gianforte continued. "I take full responsibility."

The Congressman-elect added in his apology that his donation to CPJ comes "in the hope that perhaps some good can come of these events."

Jacobs said in a statement that he fully accepted Gianforte's apology, the Guardian reports. “I hope the constructive resolution of this incident reinforces for all the importance of respecting the freedom of the press and the first amendment and encourages more civil and thoughtful discourse in our country,” Jacobs said.

Gianforte currently faces a misdemeanor assault charge over the incident.</s>There are no hard feelings, apparently, between Montana's newest member of Congress and the reporter he allegedly body-slammed.

Greg Gianforte, the Republican who flew into a rage when asked a question about the GOP health care plan, apologized to journalist Ben Jacobs of Britain's Guardian newspaper and agreed to enter a no-contest plea when he goes to court in the misdemeanor assault case on Monday.

Still, it may be premature to say that everyone is fine with the incident, which took place one day before the special election to fill a House vacancy left by the appointment of Ryan Zinke as Interior secretary. It has led to questions about whether Gianforte, a wealthy businessman, has the temperament or professionalism necessary to succeed on Capitol Hill. And despite Jacobs' willingness to forgive, it still could lead to jail time.

On Wednesday, Gianforte, who unsuccessfully ran for governor in November, issued a formal apology in which he took full responsibility for “body slamming” Jacobs after he asked him a question about the Republican health care policy.

In his letter, Gianforte described his physical response toward Jacobs as “unprofessional, unacceptable and unlawful.”

“As both a candidate for office and a public official, I should be held to a high standard in my interactions with the press and the public. My treatment of you did not meet that standard,” Gianforte's letter said. “I had no right to respond the way I did to your legitimate question about health care policy. You were doing your job.”

Gianforte's apology stands in sharp contrast to the statement his campaign spokesman, Shane Scanlon, released the night of the encounter, which said it was Jacob's “aggressive behavior” that “created this scene.”

Jacobs accepted Gianforte's apology and said in a statement he hopes the incident encourages people to have more civil forms of discussion. “I have accepted Mr. Gianforte's apology and his willingness to take responsibility for his actions and statement,” Jacobs said. “I hope the constructive resolution of this incident reinforces for all the importance of respecting the freedom of the press and the First Amendment and encourages more civil and thoughtful discourse in our country.”

As part of a settlement, Jacobs agreed not to sue the 56-year-old Republican and will not object to Gianforte's no-contest plea to the misdemeanor charged stemming from the May 24 incident. Gianforte said he would donate $50,000 to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

If convicted, Gianforte could face a fine of $500 and up to six months in jail. His first court appearance is Monday in Gallatin County, where he is expected to enter his plea.

But some people question whether Gianforte has the professionalism to be in the House of Representatives. In early June, a coalition of news media groups filed a formal complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics asking it to investigate and take disciplinary action against Gianforte. The coalition, which includes PEN America, Free Press Action Fund, Reporters Without Borders and the Society of Professional Journalists, issued a letter to President Donald Trump asking him to denounce violence against reporters, particularly when it is committed by government officials.

Gianforte is expected to be sworn in this month.

Christopher Muste, a political science professor at the University of Montana, said it's too early to see how Gianforte's criminal charge will affect his political future.

“People in Montana aren't that impressed,” Muste said in reference to Gianforte's assault charge. “But voters were willing to give him some slack. I think if he's able to win loyalty from people in Montana and persuade people he is good, then he might be able to win the election in 2018.”

Muste said that if the altercation had happened one or two weeks before the election, then it might have altered the results. But more than 250,000 absentee ballots had been cast by the time the incident occurred, which means it was too late for some residents to change their minds.

“If there was a groundswell of pressure from political leaders in both parties and voters in Montana, then I think Gianforte would have to seriously reconsider,” Muste said. “But what will happen if people ask him tough questions and he gets frustrated? How will he be able to handle that going forward?”

After the incident, two newspapers, the Missoulian and the Billings Gazette, rescinded their endorsement of the GOP candidate.

The attack instantly thrust front-runner Gianforte's campaign into the spotlight.

The incident occurred at Gianforte's headquarters in Bozeman, where a Fox News crew was preparing a story to air on television.

Jacobs was in the room with the crew when he approached Gianforte with a voice recorder to ask him a question about the Republican health care plan.

In an audio recording, Jacobs persistently asks Gianforte about the Republican replacement for the Affordable Care Act. Gianforte says he will get back to him later.

And then things took a dark turn.

“Gianforte grabbed Jacobs by the neck with both hands and slammed him into the ground behind him,” Fox News reporter Alicia Acuna, who was in the room, recalled.

Gianforte can be heard on the recording shouting at Jacobs: “I'm sick and tired of you guys. The last time you came in here you did the same thing! Get the hell out of here!”

Jacobs said his glasses were broken during the encounter, and he was taken to a hospital.

That night, Gianforte was charged with misdemeanor assault. Speculation as to whether the incident would jeopardize Gianforte's win was put to rest when he secured a little over 50 percent of the vote.

“When you make a mistake, you have to own up to it,” Gianforte said the next day during his victory speech. “I should not have responded in the way that I did, and for that I am sorry.”</s>The newly elected congressman from Montana issued a public and unequivocal apology Wednesday to the reporter whom he body-slammed on election eve.

In the letter, Greg Gianforte also promised to donate $50,000 to the Committee to Protect Journalists, explaining that his attack on Ben Jacobs of the Guardian was an unjustified assault on a reporter who was just doing his job and “in the hope that perhaps some good can come of these events.”

“My physical response to your legitimate question was unprofessional, unacceptable, and unlawful,” wrote Mr, Gianforte, Montana Republican. “As both a candidate for office and a public official, I should be held to a high standard in my interactions with the press and the public. My treatment of you did not meet that standard.”

The May 24 incident, which was caught on audio tape and witnessed by two other teams of journalists, had Mr. Gianforte react to persistent questions from Mr. Jacobs about the Obamacare-replacement bill.

The candidate pushed Mr. Jacobs to the ground, punched him and broke his glasses. The broken spectacles are being donated at the Newseum.

The Gianforte campaign initially blamed Mr. Jacobs for the altercation, and he won the special U.S. House election the next day.

Though Mr. Gianforte faces criminal assault charges, the apology and donation ends any civil claims Mr. Jacobs may make against the newly-minted congressman, the Guardian reported.

“I have accepted Mr Gianforte’s apology and his willingness to take responsibility for his actions and statements,” Mr. Jacobs said in a statement reported by the liberal British newspaper. “I hope the constructive resolution of this incident reinforces for all the importance of respecting the freedom of the press and the first amendment and encourages more civil and thoughtful discourse in our country.”
Montana congressman Greg Gianforte apologizes to journalist Ben Jacobs for the alleged body slam incident that occurred on May 24, and donates US$50,000 to the Committee to Protect Journalists.