Politician Who Assaulted Reporter to Lead Communications Workshop for NRCC

Republicans have a knack for picking people to do jobs for which they are explicitly ill-suited. You know, like Trump appointing a climate change denier to head up NASA. Now, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has picked Congressman Greg Gianforte as the speaker for its next monthly communication workshop. Only one problem here: Gianforte was convicted of assaulting a journalist, for which he agreed to pay $50,000 to the Committee to Protect Journalists as part of a settlement.

Assault is perhaps too vague of a word, here. Gianforte body-slammedGuardian journalist Ben Jacobs to the floor. He then punched Jacobs after the reporter tried to question Gianforte about running as the GOP candidate in the Montana special election in May 2017. To add insult to literal injury, Gianforte’s campaign spokesperson, Shane Scanlon, initially issued a statement blaming Jacobs. Gianforte had also told police that Jacobs had instigated the fight. Fortunately for Jacobs, other journalist who had witnessed and recorded the altercation came forward. Gianforte eventually pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and was sentenced to anger management classes, community service, and was ordered to pay a $385 fine. Reportedly, Gianforte also sent a letter of apology to Jacobs.

Naturally, free press advocates such as Reporters Without Borders (RSF) are not too pleased with the NRCC’s choice. “RSF is concerned that a congressman who assaulted a journalist on the eve of his election, and then lied about it to both the public and the police investigating the incident, will now lead a communications workshop with a committee whose aim is to get as many members of the GOP elected to Congress as possible,” said RSF’s North America Director, Margaux Ewen, in an email to Complex.com. “We call on Gianforte to heed the lessons learned from his assault conviction and teach those attending the workshop the fundamental role of journalists in a democracy, who should under no circumstances face physical violence for simply doing their job." RSF also released a press release on the assault when it happened last year. Ewen also notes that the US ranks a tragic 43rd out of 180 countries in the RSF’s 2017 World Press Freedom Index.

While not entirely relevant, but adding to the WTF aspect to this whole story, the February workshop will be catered by Chick-fil-A, which previously came under fire for its leadership’s anti-gay views.