Greg Gianforte, republikanernes kandidat til suppleringsvalget i Montana, gikk onsdag kveld til angrep på en journalist fra The Guardian.

Ben Jacobs, en politisk journalist, stilte Gianforte et spørsmål om den nye republikanske helsereformen da Gianforte dyttet han over ende og ødela brillene hans.

– I’m sick and tired of you guys, ropte Gianforte. The last guy who came here did the same thing. Get the hell out of here. Get the hell out of here. The last guy did the same thing. Are you with the Guardian?

Jacobs har tidligere blant annet skrevet en artikkel om at Gianforte har investert i en rekke russiske selskaper.

The Guardian har lagt ut sin sak om hendelsen. Du hører et lydopptak her:

Gianforte sier onsdag kveld at Jacobs opptrådte aggressivt.

Fox News-journalisten Alicia Acuna var vitne til hendelsen:

Gianforte told him he would get to him later. Jacobs persisted with his question. Gianforte told him to talk to his press guy, Shane Scanlon. At that point, Gianforte grabbed Jacobs by the neck with both hands and slammed him into the ground behind him. Faith, Keith and I watched in disbelief as Gianforte then began punching the reporter. As Gianforte moved on top of Jacobs, he began yelling something to the effect of, «I’m sick and tired of this!»

To be clear, at no point did any of us who witnessed this assault see Jacobs show any form of physical aggression toward Gianforte, who left the area after giving statements to local sheriff’s deputies.

Velgere i Montana går til valgurnene på torsdag. Aviser som tidligere hadde gitt sin støtteerklæring til Gianforte trekker nå støtten:

Du leser mer om suppleringsvalget her.