ELECTION/GOP/MEDIA/SAUDI ARABIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump reiterated his support for a Montana congressman who body-slammed a reporter last year, even as he came under criticism on Friday [10-20-18] from U.S. lawmakers and press organizations…Trump’s praise for Greg Gianforte, a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives who pleaded guilty to an assault charge for the incident involving the reporter, coincides with an international outcry over the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump has been holding frequent rallies before the Nov. 6 U.S. congressional elections in which Trump’s fellow Republicans seek to retain control of the House and Senate. Gianforte body-slammed Ben Jacobs, a correspondent for Britain’s Guardian newspaper, in May 2017, the day before a special election to fill Montana’s only House seat. Gianforte, who is running for re-election, pleaded guilty. On Friday, asked whether he regretted praising Gianforte amid the Khashoggi controversy, Trump said he did not.”
–Reuters Staff, “Trump criticized for praising congressman who body-slammed reporter,” Reuters, October 19, 2018 11:23 am