Republican in ‘body-slam’ charge wins his way to Congress
REPUBLICAN Greg Gianforte has managed to win Montana’s seat in the US House of Representatives, barely 24 hours after he was charged with assaulting a reporter who had asked him about his party’s policy on health care.
A race that was expected to be a test of President Donald Trump’s political influence ahead of next year’s congressional elections was jolted by the charge against Mr Gianforte, a wealthy technology executive.
Speaking to cheering supporters in the city of Bozeman, Montana, after his win, Mr Gianforte apologised for the incident and said that he was not proud of his actions.
“I should not have responded the way I did, and for that I’m sorry,” he said. “I should not have treated that reporter that way.”
Mr Gianforte beat Democrat Rob Quist, a political novice and banjo player who had focused his campaign on criticism of the Republican effort to replace Barack Obama’s healthcare law. CNN had projected a Gianforte win.
On Wednesday, the Republican was charged with misdemeanour assault on Ben Jacobs, a political correspondent for the US edition of The Guardian, who said the candidate “bodyslammed” him.
Mr Gianforte’s win boosts Republicans who were worried that Mr Trump’s political stumbles and the various investigations would hurt the party at the polls.