A Republican congressman 'body-slammed' a reporter - then raised a stunning amount of money the next day
That report, from the Federal Election Commission, showed that Gianforte raised $118,000 on May 25, the day of the Montana special election and one day after Gianforte "body-slammed" Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs.
That was a large improvement from the $52,000 he raised on May 24 and an even greater haul than the average total his campaign raised between May 20 and May 23, which was just $17,250 per day.
Gianforte's act of violence against Jacobs, which happened after Jacobs asked Gianforte about House Republicans' American Health Care Act, became national news. Gianforte pleaded guilty to assault and was given a 180-day deferred jail sentence, 40 hours of community service, 20 hours of anger management counseling, and a $385 fine.
As part of an agreement, Jacobs did not sue Gianforte over the incident. Gianforte wrote Jacobs a letter of apology and donated $50,000 to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
"I want to express my sincere apology for my conduct on the evening of May 24," Gianforte wrote in his apology. "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."
Jacobs accepted the apology "and his willingness to take responsibility for his actions and statements."
Gianforte was sworn into office earlier this month as Montana's lone congressman, filling the vacancy left by Ryan Zinke, who is serving in President Donald Trump's administration as interior secretary.