Judge releases Montana Republican’s mugshot

A Montana judge on Wednesday released Rep. Greg Gianforte’s (R-Mont.) mugshot, which he took when he was booked for an assault charge after an altercation with a reporter.

Rep. Greg Gianforte’s mugshot. #mtpol pic.twitter.com/yzUhWNBDyx

— Whitney Bermes (@wabermes) October 11, 2017

Gianforte’s clash with The Guardian’s Ben Jacobs came the day before his special election against Democrat Rob Quist.

{mosads}

As Jacobs approached Gianforte to ask him questions about the House’s health-care vote, the candidate accosted Jacobs, who was thrown to the ground. The altercation was witnessed by a Fox News reporter and caught on audio by Jacobs, who had been recording what he had hoped to be an interview with Gianforte. 

While his campaign initially swept aside Jacobs’s accusations and accused him of grabbing the future congressman’s wrist, Gianforte later apologized and pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge. He served no jail time, instead paying a fine and being sentenced to community service.

His lawyers had sought to prevent him from sitting for a mugshot, but a judge ultimately ordered him to do so in August.

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported Gianforte would not fight the release of the photo. Gallatin County District Judge Holly Brown released the mugshot at the request of media.

Gianforte replaced then-Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) who was tapped by President Trump to lead the Interior Department.