Ryan: Montana GOPer’s Alleged Assault ‘Wrong And It Should Not Have Happened’

UNITED STATES - MAY 18: Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., holds his weekly news conference in the Capitol on Thursday, May 18, 2017. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) (CQ Roll Call via AP Images)
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House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) on Thursday condemned Montana Republican candidate Greg Gianforte’s alleged assault of a reporter, but said he will accept Gianforte into the Republican conference if he wins the election.

“There’s never a call for physical altercations,” Ryan said at his weekly press conference. “There is no time where a physical altercation should occur with the press or just between human beings. So that is wrong and it should not have happened.”

Ben Jacobs, a reporter for the Guardian, on Wednesday night said that Gianforte “body-slammed” him after he asked Gianforte a question. The Guardian posted audio of the alleged assault, in which a crashing sound can be heard and a man who is apparently Gianforte tells Jacobs he is “sick and tired of you guys.”

“You just body slammed me and broke my glasses,” Jacobs replied.

“Get the hell out of here,” the man responded.

Gianforte’s campaign spokesman contradicted Jacobs’ account, claiming that the reporter “shoved a recorder” in Gianforte’s face and pulled both of them to the ground. The audio appears to contradict this version of events.

Ryan on Thursday said that “the gentleman” — referring to Gianforte, who was charged with misdemeanor assault — “should apologize.”

“I know he has his own version, and I’m sure he’s going to have more to say, but there’s no call for this, no matter what, under any circumstance,” he said.

“If he wins, will you seat him?” a reporter asked.

“If he wins, he has been chosen by the people of Montana who their congressman is going to be,” Ryan said. “I’m going to let the people of Montana decide who they want as their representative. That’s not our choice.”

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  1. Such a brave statement from Ryan. What a wimp. How about saying that if elected he would be sworn on but that his future would be determined later, considering the House could expel him. Instead the brave Ryan just throws up his hands and says it’d be Montana’s will, so nothing to get excited about. Ryan could also shut him out if any committee assignments and treat him like the pariah he is. But, No, he is, after all, a Republican and we like our power, morality and decency and civility be damned.

  2. Avatar for dnl dnl says:

    Woooooooooo… Paulie softening his stance…'Comey not a nut job. And Gianforte wrong and should not have happened". Golly gee-------what will he not condone next?

  3. Funny the people of the United States chose Clinton yet the House seated Trump as POTUS.

    That said, the answer is yes he will seat him despite the House being within its rights and powers to refuse to do so.

    Tells you all you need to know about this asshole’s ethics.

  4. “House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) on Thursday condemned Montana Republican candidate Greg Gianforte’s alleged assault of a reporter, but said he will accept Gianforte into the Republican conference if he wins the election.”

    What do you mean “BUT said he will accept Gianforte”? The guy has all the qualifications for GOP office.

  5. but said he will accept Gianforte into the Republican conference if he wins the election.

    Because furthering your own twisted agenda is closest thing to a moral compass you have. You and your whole fucking party.

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