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Meet Ben Jacobs, The Reporter Who Got Body-Slammed By Montana House Candidate

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By Daniel J. Solomon May 25, 2017

Ben Jacobs earned a strange distinction on Wednesday night as he became the first reporter in recent memory to be physically assaulted by a candidate for Congress. Working for the United States edition of The Guardian, Jacobs was body-slammed by Montana House hopeful Greg Gianforte, who erupted in rage after Jacobs asked him a question about health policy. Here’s what we know about the the reporter himself.

1. Trained As An Attorney

Jacobs attended Grinnell College in Iowa and then received a law degree from Duke University. Jacobs has been active in covering political developments on the ground in Iowa – and his alma mater featured a retrospective article he wrote about the state’s famous caucus.

2. Based In Washington, D.C.

After the incident, which has led to misdemeanor assault charges against Gianforte, radio host Laura Ingraham insinuated on Twitter that a “real Montana man” would have fought back. But Jacobs isn’t from Montana. He works out of Washington, D.C. and was in the state to cover the closer-than-usual special election, widely seen as a gauge of President Trump’s popularity.

3. Wide Repertoire

Before his stint with The Guardian, Jacobs worked for The Daily Beast, and has freelanced for a number of publications including New Republic, Atlantic, Salon and the Boston Globe.

4. Just The Facts

After his assault, Jacobs reported the incident on Twitter with a “just the facts” tone. It was a serious enough injury that he was hospitalized and X-rayed for bone damage.

Greg Gianforte just body slammed me and broke my glasses

— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) May 24, 2017

Contact Daniel J. Solomon at [solomon@forward.com}(mailto:solomon@forward.com] or on Twitter @DanielJSolomon

Daniel J. Solomon is the former Assistant to the Editor/News Writer at the Forward. Originally from Queens, he attended Harvard as an undergraduate, where he wrote his senior thesis on French-Jewish intellectual history. He is excited to have returned to New York after his time in Massachusetts. Daniel’s passions include folk music, cycling, and pointed argument.

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