Montana congressman-elect to be sentenced for altercation with reporter(Reuters) - Montana Republican congressman-elect Greg Gianforte is expected next week to enter a plea of no contest or a plea of guilty to misdemeanor assault after he was accused of attacking a reporter on the eve of his election, a prosecutor said on Thursday. Gianforte will appear in court in Bozeman on Monday and is scheduled to be sentenced the same day, after he enters his plea, Gallatin County Attorney Marty Lambert said by phone. The altercation has been portrayed as an illustration of the new toxicity of American politics. Critics of President Donald Trump say his strident criticism of the media has encouraged violence against journalists, while his supporters say many reporters are overly aggressive and disrespectful.   Under Montana law, a conviction for misdemeanor assault carries a maximum sentence of six months in jail. Lambert declined to say if his office would recommend jail time. An attorney for Gianforte declined comment. Gianforte, a technology executive, pledged in a letter on Wednesday to donate $50,000 to the Committee to Protect Journalists and apologized to reporter Ben Jacobs, who accused Gianforte of assaulting him on May 24. Gianforte won Montana’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election the next day. Jacobs, a political correspondent for the U.S. edition of The Guardian newspaper, said Gianforte “body-slammed” him, breaking his eyeglasses, when the reporter posed a question about healthcare during a campaign event in Bozeman.  Gianforte was heard shouting: “Get the hell out of here” and “I’m sick and tired of you guys” in an audio recording of the incident played repeatedly on cable news television. Gianforte’s campaign initially suggested Jacobs instigated the incident by barging into the candidate’s office and shoving a recording device in his face as he was preparing for a TV interview. But in a letter of apology to Jacobs issued on Wednesday, Gianforte said his “physical response to your legitimate question was unprofessional, unacceptable and unlawful.” In return for Gianforte’s apology and his charitable donation, Jacobs agreed not to bring civil action against the congressman-elect. Jacobs, at Gianforte’s request, also sent an email to Lambert, saying he would not object to Gianforte pleading no contest to misdemeanor assault, according to a release of liability document signed by Jacobs. Lambert said his office could still insist that Gianforte plead guilty instead of pleading no contest. In either event, the plea would trigger Gianforte’s sentencing. Lambert previously said additional, more serious criminal charges could be brought in the case. But he said on Thursday that after reviewing the evidence and discussing the matter with Jacobs, the prosecutor decided the misdemeanor charge was appropriate. Gianforte defeated Democrat Rob Quist to fill the House seat vacated when Trump appointed Ryan Zinke as interior secretary. He is expected to be sworn in later this month.  politicsNews
montana sentenced altercation reporter reuters montana republican greg gianforte expected next week enter plea contest plea guilty misdemeanor assault accused attacking reporter eve election prosecutor said thursday gianforte appear court baseman monday scheduled sentenced day enters plea gallant county attorney party lambert said phone the altercation portrayed illustration new toxicity american politics critics president donald trump say trident criticism media encouraged violence journalists supporters say many reporters overly aggressive disrespectful under montana law conviction misdemeanor assault carries maximum sentence six months jail lambert declined say office would recommend jail time an attorney gianforte declined comment gianforte technology executive pledged letter wednesday donate committee protect journalists apologized reporter ben jacobs accused gianforte assaulting may gianforte montana lone seat house representatives special election next day jacobs political correspondent edition the guardian newspaper said gianforte breaking eyeglasses reporter posed question healthcare campaign event baseman gianforte heard shouting get hell i sick tired guys audio recording incident played repeatedly cable news television gianforte campaign initially suggested jacobs instigated incident barring candidate office showing recording device face preparing tv interview but letter apology jacobs issued wednesday gianforte said physical response legitimate question unprofessional unacceptable in return gianforte apology charitable donation jacobs agreed bring civil action jacobs gianforte request also sent email lambert saying would object gianforte pleading contest misdemeanor assault according release liability document signed jacobs lambert said office could still insist gianforte plead guilty instead pleading contest in either event plea would trigger gianforte sentencing lambert previously said additional serious criminal charges could brought case but said thursday reviewing evidence discussing matter jacobs prosecutor decided misdemeanor charge appropriate gianforte defeated democrat rob quit fill house seat vacated trump appointed ryan zine interior secretary he expected sworn later month politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Montana congressman-elect to be sentenced for altercation with reporter(Reuters) - Montana Republican congressman-elect Greg Gianforte is expected next week to enter a plea of no contest or a plea of guilty to misdemeanor assault after he was accused of attacking a reporter on the eve of his election, a prosecutor said on Thursday. Gianforte will appear in court in Bozeman on Monday and is scheduled to be sentenced the same day, after he enters his plea, Gallatin County Attorney Marty Lambert said by phone. The altercation has been portrayed as an illustration of the new toxicity of American politics. Critics of President Donald Trump say his strident criticism of the media has encouraged violence against journalists, while his supporters say many reporters are overly aggressive and disrespectful.   Under Montana law, a conviction for misdemeanor assault carries a maximum sentence of six months in jail. Lambert declined to say if his office would recommend jail time. An attorney for Gianforte declined comment. Gianforte, a technology executive, pledged in a letter on Wednesday to donate $50,000 to the Committee to Protect Journalists and apologized to reporter Ben Jacobs, who accused Gianforte of assaulting him on May 24. Gianforte won Montana’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election the next day. Jacobs, a political correspondent for the U.S. edition of The Guardian newspaper, said Gianforte “body-slammed” him, breaking his eyeglasses, when the reporter posed a question about healthcare during a campaign event in Bozeman.  Gianforte was heard shouting: “Get the hell out of here” and “I’m sick and tired of you guys” in an audio recording of the incident played repeatedly on cable news television. Gianforte’s campaign initially suggested Jacobs instigated the incident by barging into the candidate’s office and shoving a recording device in his face as he was preparing for a TV interview. But in a letter of apology to Jacobs issued on Wednesday, Gianforte said his “physical response to your legitimate question was unprofessional, unacceptable and unlawful.” In return for Gianforte’s apology and his charitable donation, Jacobs agreed not to bring civil action against the congressman-elect. Jacobs, at Gianforte’s request, also sent an email to Lambert, saying he would not object to Gianforte pleading no contest to misdemeanor assault, according to a release of liability document signed by Jacobs. Lambert said his office could still insist that Gianforte plead guilty instead of pleading no contest. In either event, the plea would trigger Gianforte’s sentencing. Lambert previously said additional, more serious criminal charges could be brought in the case. But he said on Thursday that after reviewing the evidence and discussing the matter with Jacobs, the prosecutor decided the misdemeanor charge was appropriate. Gianforte defeated Democrat Rob Quist to fill the House seat vacated when Trump appointed Ryan Zinke as interior secretary. He is expected to be sworn in later this month.  politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: montana sentenced altercation reporter reuters montana republican greg gianforte expected next week enter plea contest plea guilty misdemeanor assault accused attacking reporter eve election prosecutor said thursday gianforte appear court baseman monday scheduled sentenced day enters plea gallant county attorney party lambert said phone the altercation portrayed illustration new toxicity american politics critics president donald trump say trident criticism media encouraged violence journalists supporters say many reporters overly aggressive disrespectful under montana law conviction misdemeanor assault carries maximum sentence six months jail lambert declined say office would recommend jail time an attorney gianforte declined comment gianforte technology executive pledged letter wednesday donate committee protect journalists apologized reporter ben jacobs accused gianforte assaulting may gianforte montana lone seat house representatives special election next day jacobs political correspondent edition the guardian newspaper said gianforte breaking eyeglasses reporter posed question healthcare campaign event baseman gianforte heard shouting get hell i sick tired guys audio recording incident played repeatedly cable news television gianforte campaign initially suggested jacobs instigated incident barring candidate office showing recording device face preparing tv interview but letter apology jacobs issued wednesday gianforte said physical response legitimate question unprofessional unacceptable in return gianforte apology charitable donation jacobs agreed bring civil action jacobs gianforte request also sent email lambert saying would object gianforte pleading contest misdemeanor assault according release liability document signed jacobs lambert said office could still insist gianforte plead guilty instead pleading contest in either event plea would trigger gianforte sentencing lambert previously said additional serious criminal charges could brought case but said thursday reviewing evidence discussing matter jacobs prosecutor decided misdemeanor charge appropriate gianforte defeated democrat rob quit fill house seat vacated trump appointed ryan zine interior secretary he expected sworn later month politicsnews