Gianforte shouldn’t have written the apology letter. Update to this story.
A lawyer for a Guardian reporter is asking that Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Mont., and his associates discontinue claims made by a spokesman related to a physical altercation between the reporter and Gianforte earlier this year.
The letter, reported Monday by CNN, is addressed to Gianforte and his spokesman Travis Hall. It claims that Hall has made “false and defamatory” statements about Ben Jacobs, a politics reporter for the Guardian.
“On behalf of this firm’s client Benjamin Jacobs, I write to demand that Rep. Gianforte, his spokesman, Mr. Hall, and all other persons working for or affiliated with Rep. Gianforte or his campaign immediately cease and desist from making any further false and defamatory statements about Mr. Jacobs,” the letter says.
The Associated Press reported earlier this month that Gianforte had initially misled authorities about the May 23 altercation, after official related documents said that Gianforte claimed that Jacobs had instigated a fight.