RNC chief: Gianforte ‘right to apologize’

Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel said Greg Gianforte was “right to apologize” for an alleged assault against a reporter that came the day before he won Montana’s special House election.

“Congressman-elect Greg Gianforte was right to apologize for his actions in Wednesday’s statement,” Romney McDaniel said in a statement Thursday. “Tonight’s apology was a good first step toward redemption and I hope Gianforte continues to work toward righting his wrong.”

McDaniel added that Montana voters “chose to send a conservative to Washington” in Thursday’s vote to replace former GOP Rep. Ryan Zinke, who is now serving as Interior secretary.

{mosads}“Once again, voters responded to President Trump’s call to protect the hard work this administration has done to reform a burdensome tax code, cut onerous regulations and relieve hardworking taxpayers across the country from the rising costs of ObamaCare.”

Gianforte on Thursday apologized to The Guardian’s Ben Jacobs over an alleged physical encounter between them Wednesday.

“Last night, I made a mistake and I took an action that I can’t take back — and I’m not proud of what happened,” he said during a victory rally in Bozeman, Mont. “I should not have treated that reporter that way and for that I am sorry, Mr. Ben Jacobs.”

Gianforted defeated Democrat Rob Quist for Montana’s only House seat.

Montana law enforcement officials on Wednesday charged Gianforte with misdemeanor assault.

Gianforte allegedly “body slammed” Jacobs at the candidate’s campaign headquarters in Bozeman after Jacobs asked him a question about the GOP’s ObamaCare repeal plan.