Rep. Greg Gianforte, a Montana Republican, must be fingerprinted and booked for assaulting Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs earlier this year, a judge has ordered.
Gianforte must report to the Gallatin County Detention Center in Bozeman no later than Sept. 15 to provide booking information, including a photograph and fingerprints, Justice Court Judge Rick West ruled, according to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.
The incident took place on May 24, the eve of Gianforte's election when Jacobs posed a question to Gianforte, who allegedly responded by attacking him.
Jacobs described the altercation on Twitter, stating "Greg Gianforte just body slammed me and broke my glasses."
Gianforte was not arrested and booked for the assault, although a charge was later filed, The Guardian reported.
Gianforte offered an apology to Jacobs, stating he had "learned a lesson," USA Today reported. He was later cited for misdemeanour assault, to which he pleaded guilty in June.
Gianforte was fined $385 and ordered to complete community service while also undergoing anger management counseling, The Associated Press reported.
The Republican congressman had argued that he had not been formally arrested therefore he should not have to be fingerprinted, photographed and booked, the AP reported, adding that his spokesman, Travis Hall, said lawyers are considering options for an appeal.
Gianforte's mugshot could be used against him in the 2018 midterm election.
"We're intending to help explain to Montana voters who Gianforte is," Montana Democratic Party spokesman Roy Loewenstein said, according to the AP. "We're going to make sure they see the complete record."
At the time of the incident, Gallatin County Sheriff Brian Gootkin said in a statement that "there was probable cause to issue a citation to Greg Gianforte for misdemeanor assault," adding that "the nature of the injuries did not meet the statutory elements of felony assault."
Gootkin drew controversy for a contribution he made to Gianforte's campaign. The Sheriff confirmed in the statement that he had contributed $250 on March 23 but it had nothing to do with the investigation.
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