Rep. Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.) told police after he assaulted a reporter in May that the journalist had made physical contact with him first, The Guardian reported Friday.
The account given to police by the now-congressman contradicts eye witness accounts and an audio recording of the altercation between Gianforte and Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs.
According to witnesses, Gianforte knocked the journalist to the ground and punched him after Jacobs asked the then-candidate a question about a GOP health-care bill.
The altercation broke out a day before Montana’s special House election to fill the seat vacated by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. Despite the incident, Gianforte won the race.
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He eventually pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault, and received a sentence of community service, anger management classes and a $385 fine.
Gianforte’s account of the incident was made public in a police report released Friday.
After the incident in May, Shane Scanlon, a spokesman for Gianforte, said the reporter “grabbed Greg’s wrist, and spun away from Greg, pushing them both to the ground.”
That account was soon disputed by a team of Fox News journalists who witnessed the incident, as well as an audio recording taken by Jacobs.
In an apology letter sent to Jacobs in June as part of an agreement to settle any potential civil suits, Gianforte acknowledged that the reporter did not initiate contact with him.
“Notwithstanding anyone’s statements to the contrary, you did not initiate any physical contact with me, and I had no right to assault you,” he wrote.