Greg Gianforte apologizes for assaulting a reporter in Montana special-election victory speech
"When you make a mistake, you have to own up to it. That's the Montana way," Gianforte said. "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, and for that I am sorry."
"I should not have treated that reporter that way. And, for that, I'm sorry, Mr. Ben Jacobs," Gianforte said, referring to The Guardian reporter who said Gianforte "body-slammed" him during a campaign event the day before.
Watch a portion of Gianforte's apology below:
Read Gianforte's full apology here:
The altercation happened at Gianforte's campaign headquarters in Bozeman, Montana on Wednesday. Jacobs said he was asking Gianforte some questions at a campaign event before their encounter turned violent.
"Greg Gianforte just body slammed me and broke my glasses," Jacobs tweeted Wednesday.
Local authorities said in a statement that after "multiple interviews and an investigation by the Gallatin County Sheriff's office, it was determined there was probable cause to issue a citation to Greg Gianforte for misdemeanor assault."
Gianforte is expected to appear at Gallatin County Justice Court "between now and June 7," the police statement said.