GOP/LEGAL/POLITICS; “Montana’s next congressman, Greg Gianforte, avoided jail time Monday [6-12-17] after pleading guilty to assaulting a reporter the day before he was elected.
Gallatin County Justice of the Peace Rick West sentenced the Republican technology entrepreneur to 40 hours of community service, 20 hours of anger management counseling and ordered him to pay a $385 fine for the misdemeanor. If he remains law abiding for 180 days, he can petition for the conviction to be removed from his record.
Gianforte’s attorneys noted that he had already paid more than $4,600 in restitution to Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs for the assault, which cast a pall over his May 25 victory to serve the remainder of Ryan Zinke’s term. Zinke resigned to become Interior Department secretary.”
-The associated press, “Incoming Lawmaker Gianforte Avoids Jail Time for Reporter Assault,” Bloomberg, June 12, 2017 09:56am