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Montana Sheriff's department investigating after GOP candidate 'body slammed' reporter | TheHill

posted onMay 25, 2017
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Article snippet: The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office in Montana convened a press conference on the eve of Montana’s pivotal special election, following allegations that a GOP congressional candidate “body slammed” a reporter. "The main reason why we're having this press conference right now, I need to ask you, all of the media and the public to stop calling our dispatch center," Gootkin said Wednesday night, talking with reporters for about 10 minutes. "They're being inundated with phone calls from the public and from you folks and that is absolutely impeding their business ... I ask that everyone out there stops calling 911." Gootkin told reporters in Montana that deputies briefly interviewed Gianforte, Jacobs and several witnesses following the incident which occurred at 5 p.m. MT. The sheriff said Jacobs has been released from the hospital and is currently at their offices. When asked if the alleged victim would be filing charges, Gootkin responded, "the victim is being interviewed as we speak." When asked if Gianforte has declined to talk to the sheriff, Gootkin said his office hasn't spoken with the Montana congressional candidate except when they were at the scene. Once Jacobs and the witnesses are done being interviewed, Gootkin said he will try to interview Gianforte, but noted that he has the right to decline. The incident comes hours before Montanans head to the polls in the highly anticipated special election. Gianforte faces a tough race against Democrat Rob Quist f... Link to the full article to read more

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