Gianforte Pleads Guilty, Gets Community Service

'I just want to say I'm sorry,' says the congressman-elect over reporter body-slam
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 12, 2017 12:42 PM CDT
Gianforte Gets Community Service for Reporter Body-Slam
Greg Gianforte speaks to supporters after winning Montana's open congressional seat in this file photo.   (Rachel Leathe/Bozeman Daily Chronicle via AP, File)

The man who will soon be the nation's newest member of Congress learned his penalty on Monday for roughing up a reporter: 40 hours of community service, a $385 fine, and 20 hours of anger-management counseling. Montana Congressman-elect Greg Gianforte pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault for his infamous body-slam of Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs the day before polls opened in his House race last month, reports the Missoulian. The bright side for Gianforte: The judge thought about jailing him for four days, but ultimately decided against it, reports the Guardian.

"I just want to say I’m sorry," Gianforte told Jacobs, who was present in court. When the judge asked Gianforte what happened, he said he went after Jacobs' phone when the reporter was asking him a question but ended up grabbing his wrists instead and taking him to the floor. Last week, in a civil settlement, Gianforte agreed to apologize in writing and donate $50,000 to the Committee to Protect Journalists. (More Greg Gianforte stories.)

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