Montana-land of the gubernatorial body-slam!
in May of 2017, while campaigning for congress, Montana’s current governor Greg Gianforte, body slammed a reporter from The Guardian while he was asking Greg a question about healthcare. A local FOX news team witnessed the assault….
“Faith, Keith and I arrived early to set up for the interview in a room adjacent to another room where a volunteer BBQ was to take place. As the time for the interview neared, Gianforte came into the room. We exchanged pleasantries and made small talk about restaurants and Bozeman.
During that conversation, another man — who we now know is Ben Jacobs of The Guardian — walked into the room with a voice recorder, put it up to Gianforte's face and began asking if he had a response to the newly released Congressional Budget Office report on the American Health Care Act. Gianforte told him he would get to him later. Jacobs persisted with his question. Gianforte told him to talk to his press guy, Shane Scanlon. At that point, Gianforte grabbed Jacobs by the neck with both hands and slammed him into the ground behind him. Faith, Keith and I watched in disbelief as Gianforte then began punching the reporter. As Gianforte moved on top of Jacobs, he began yelling something to the effect of, "I'm sick and tired of this!"
Jacobs scrambled to his knees and said something about his glasses being broken. He asked Faith, Keith and myself for our names. In shock, we did not answer. Jacobs then said he wanted the police called and went to leave. Gianforte looked at the three of us and repeatedly apologized. At that point, I told him and Scanlon, who was now present, that we needed a moment. The men then left. To be clear, at no point did any of us who witnessed this assault see Jacobs show any form of physical aggression toward Gianforte, who left the area after giving statements to local sheriff's deputies.
As for myself and my crew, we are cooperating with local authorities. Gianforte was given a citation for misdemeanor assault and will have to appear in court sometime before June 7.“
This is taken from the following news report….
This happened 8 years ago. To my knowledge, no reporter has been able to approach Greg to answer any tough questions since. His communications staff keeps Greg safe from answering any tough questions by vetting questions beforehand and denying access to Greg unless a scripted dialogue is agreed to beforehand. Only a few reporters in Montana are granted any opportunity to interview Greg and only those reporters who are deemed “loyal”.
Greg’s style of “Body Slam” leadership toward the press was admired by our current president while campaigning for his first term. And a bond was formed between the two which continues today. The silence of our major media outlets about lack of access to ask questions is now ubiquitous and, it seems the public is unconcerned and, in the case of Montana’s voters, applauded by electing Greg into office once as congressman and twice as governor.
How does the public become fully informed without access to information that is being siloed to shield politicians from criticism?
our own Montana Constitution guarantees “transparency” but Greg and his staff violate this every day by denying access to our Governor, even shrouding his schedule in secrecy. Greg meets with supporters and billionaires every day but refuses to comply with our right to know what he is saying and doing behind closed doors. The Sunlight part of Montana’s Constitution was expressly written to protect the people of Montana from abuses that were committed during the gilded age of the mining barons at the turn of the 20th century.
One hundred years later, Greg Gianforte continues to deny access to what his staff deems “non loyal” reporters with tough questions. I am ashamed that “Body Slam” Greg is still our governor but absolutely mortified that our news organizations comply with our governor and his staff’s daily denial of our right to be informed.
