'I made a mistake... I'm sorry': Republican candidate Greg Gianforte apologizes for body-slamming reporter after WINNING Montana special election despite facing assault charge
Greg Gianforte (pictured center with his wife Susan) used his victory speech on Thursday in Bozeman, Montana, on Thursday to apologize for body-slamming Guardian journalist Ben Jacobs (right). ‘I 'Last night, I made a mistake and I took an action that I can't take back and I'm not proud of what happened. 'I should not have responded in the way that I did...I should not have treated that reporter that way and for that I am sorry, Mr Ben Jacobs,' he said. Gianforte was charged with misdemeanor assault after lashing out at the reporter as he tried to ask him questions on healthcare reform on Wednesday. Jacobs, who had his iPhone primed to record the politician’s quotes, captured the incident and published an audio recording of it online later. Gianforte, 56, faced calls from senior GOP figures including House Speaker Paul Ryan to apologize on Thursday. He initially tried to claim via a campaign spokesman that Jacobs was ‘aggressive’ and that the pair fell. He won the race with 50.6 percent of the vote over opponent Rob Quist’s (left) 44 percent.
Greg Gianforte (pictured center with his wife Susan) used his victory speech on Thursday in Bozeman, Montana, on Thursday to apologize for body-slamming Guardian journalist Ben Jacobs (right). ‘I 'Last night, I made a mistake and I took an action that I can't take back and I'm not proud of what happened. 'I should not have responded in the way that I did...I should not have treated that reporter that way and for that I am sorry, Mr Ben Jacobs,' he said. Gianforte was charged with misdemeanor assault after lashing out at the reporter as he tried to ask him questions on healthcare reform on Wednesday. Jacobs, who had his iPhone primed to record the politician’s quotes, captured the incident and published an audio recording of it online later. Gianforte, 56, faced calls from senior GOP figures including House Speaker Paul Ryan to apologize on Thursday. He initially tried to claim via a campaign spokesman that Jacobs was ‘aggressive’ and that the pair fell. He won the race with 50.6 percent of the vote over opponent Rob Quist’s (left) 44 percent.