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Greg Gianforte sentenced to community service for assaulting Guardian reporter
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Candidate
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| Contributor | IndyGeorgia |
| Last Edited | IndyGeorgia Jun 12, 2017 09:37pm |
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| Category | Legal Ruling |
| Author | Sam Levin and Julia Carrie Wong |
| News Date | Monday, June 12, 2017 06:00:00 PM UTC0:0 |
| Description | Congressman-elect Greg Gianforte was sentenced to community service, a $385 fine and 20 hours of sessions for anger management after pleading guilty to assaulting Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs on the eve of his election.
In a courtroom packed with journalists and spectators in Bozeman, Montana, Gianforte pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault, saying, “Although it was not my intention to hurt him, I understand Ben was injured.”
After judge Rick West repeatedly asked Gianforte whether he believed he caused injury to Jacobs, the congressman-elect said he did. West initially said he would sentence him to four days in jail, saying he could do a work program as an alternative to spending those nights in jail. But when the judge learned that the assault charge was not eligible for the program, he decided to instead sentence him to 40 hours of community service, emphasizing that he did not want the congressman-elect to go to jail.
“You accepted responsibility. You apologized,” said West, who noted the Republican tech millionaire’s business accomplishments in his sentencing. The judge also said he did not believe the maximum fine of $500 was necessary.
In his statement to the court, Jacobs recounted the violent encounter and aftermath: “I asked Mr Gianforte a question in the same manner I have asked questions of hundreds of politicians: congressmen, senators and even the man who is now our president. Mr Gianforte’s response was to slam me to the floor and start punching me. He injured my elbow, broke my glasses and thrust me into a national spotlight I did not seek or desire.” |
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