Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Reporter Accuses Montana Candidate Of 'Body-Slamming' Him After Asking About CBO Report
The Guardian: Newspapers Ditch Republican Charged With Assaulting Guardian Reporter
A Republican candidate for the US Congress has lost the support of two newspapers in his state after he was charged with the assault of a Guardian reporter who tried to ask him about his party’s healthcare plan. Greg Gianforte, who is running for Montana’s congressional seat in a special election to be held on Thursday, was charged with misdemeanour assault after Ben Jacobs made a complaint to police about the incident at Gianforte’s campaign headquarters on Wednesday. (Gayle, 5/25)
CNN Money: GOP Candidate Charged After Allegedly 'Body Slamming' Reporter
"He took me to the ground," Jacobs told his paper. "This is the strangest thing that has ever happened to me in reporting on politics. "The audio file provided by Jacobs backs up his account of the incident and so did accounts by other journalists who witnessed the incident. (Byers and McLean, 5/25)
Politico: Montana House GOP Candidate Cited After Reporter Says He 'Body-Slammed Me'
The incident rocked a closely watched contest, just hours before voters cast their ballots in Thursday’s special House election in Montana to replace Ryan Zinke, who is now the Trump administration's secretary of the interior. Gianforte, a technology executive, is running against Democrat Rob Quist, a folk singer and first-time candidate. The race in the traditional Republican stronghold is turning out to be closer than many thought it would be. (Gold and Debenedetti, 5/25)
Previous KHN Coverage Of Race: Health Debate Heats Up In Montana Special Election
