Greg Gianforte's assault charge puts Republicans in a lose-lose situation in MT

Source: CNN | May 25, 2017 | Chris Cillizza

Greg Gianforte’s assault charge puts Republicans in a lose-lose situation in Montana

Washington (CNN) – Greg Gianforte’s choke-slam of reporter Ben Jacobs on Wednesday night — and the ensuing assault charge — might not cost him a victory in today’s Montana special election. But even if Gianforte wins, Republicans will face a major decision on whether or not to seat him.

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It’s totally possible — despite the fact that Gianforte’s assault charge is splashed across the front pages of Montana’s newspapers and leading many national newscasts this morning — that he still wins the election today.

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If Gianforte loses, he — and the story — disappear. Republicans would immediately blame his last-minute implosion for the defeat, allowing them to avoid the idea that the race should be properly read as a national referendum on Trump and the recently-passed American Health Care Act. (Worth noting: Before Gianforte’s choke-slam on Jacobs, the race had been tightening due to the corroding national environment for Republicans.)

Now, consider what happens if Gianforte wins. Some time between now and June 7, he will have to appear in court to face the assault charge. And based on the audio provided by Jacobs as well as the eyewitness reports from a Fox News crew, it’s hard to see how he doesn’t get convicted. (Nota bene: I am not a lawyer.)

What do Republicans do then? Every member of leadership will be asked, daily, whether seating Gianforte represents a willingness to look the other way. And for a party already struggling with branding issues, that’s not the sort of story House Republicans need bouncing around Washington.

If they don’t seat Gianforte, then what? Can they force him to resign? And would that mean — as I suspect it would — another special election where the Democratic nominee, Rob Quist, would almost certainly run and might well start as the front-runner due to the controversy surrounding Gianforte?

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