Three witnesses saw Greg Gianforte assault Ben Jacobs, and it was even more violent than the audio suggested
In the hours since The Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs claimed that Montana Republican candidate Greg Gianforte “body slammed” him during a campaign event, evidence has been trickling in. Jacobs provided an audio recording of the incident which appeared to corroborate his story. But now three reporters from a competing news outlet, who were in the room and witnessed it themselves, are describing the attack as being even more vicious and violent than the audio had suggested.
Three reporters from Fox News were in the room and were setting up a television interview when the incident between Gianforte and Jacobs took place. Alicia Acuna of Fox News has penned this first hand account: “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 man, as he moved on top the reporter and began yelling something to the effect of ‘I’m sick and tired of this!'” They also assert that Gianforte apologized to them for his violent outburst.
Gianforte’s campaign is now asserting that Jacobs had initiated the physical confrontation. But this account from the Fox News crew disputes that, and goes on to specifically make clear that “at no point did any of us who witnessed this assault see Jacobs show any form of physical aggression toward Gianforte.” (link). Based on the account given by the Fox crew, they didn’t recognize Jacobs at the time and didn’t know who he was (referring to him simply as “the man”), and therefore don’t appear to be siding with him based on any kind of friendship among reporters.
It’s also worth pointing out that the Greg Gianforte campaign is trying to delegitimize Jacobs’ claim by painting The Guardian as a “liberal” news outlet, ostensibly out to get the conservative Gianforte. But with conservative Fox News now corroborating The Guardian reporter’s story, Gianforte’s rationale goes out the window.
