GOP Candidate In Montana, Upper Merion Grad, Allegedly Body Slams Reporter

UPPER MERION, PA — Greg Gianforte, a graduate of Upper Merion High School, tech mogul, and Republican politician, is making national headlines after allegedly body slamming a reporter.

Gianforte is the front runner in a special election in Montana to replace U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, who was tabbed by President Trump as the Secretary of the Interior earlier this year. The election is Thursday.

The alleged incident occurred when The Guardian's politics reporter Ben Jacobs attempted to ask Gianforte a question at a campaign event while Gianforte was preparing for another interview with Fox News. Gianforte became irritated by Jacobs' questions about the Republican health care plan. Gianforte then "body slammed" Jacobs, according to the reporter's account, knocking him to the ground and breaking his glasses. Jacobs ended up in an ambulance and called the police.

In a statement, the Gianforte campaign disputed the reporter's story. It said that Jacobs entered a private office to speak with the candidate without permission, adding that Jacobs "aggressively shoved a recorder in [Gianforte's] face" and asked "badgering questions." It says Jacobs was asked to leave.

Gianforte, who ran and lost the 2016 governor's race in Montana, played football for Upper Merion Area High School and later attended Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey.

The Billings Gazette, the state's largest newspaper, rescinded its endorsement of Gianforte after the incident. The Missoulian and The Independent Record followed suit.

Montana Special Election Coverage

Gianforte is running against Democrat Rob Quist.

With reporting from Patch correspondent Cody Fenwick

Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images