Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Mont., and the Gallatin County attorney are not opposed to a judge releasing Gianforte’s mugshot, which was taken after he was convicted of assaulting a reporter, following multiple requests from news organizations for the photo to be released.
Now, the fate of the photo lies in the hands of Gallatin County District Judge Holly Brown, who has yet to weigh in on the requests from the news outlets.
The congressman was ordered to have his fingerprints and mugshot taken from Justice Court Judge Rick West, after Gianforte pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault for “body slamming” Guardian newspaper reporter Ben Jacobs in Bozeman on May 24.
Although most of Montana counties regard mugshots as public information, Gallatin County Attorney Marty Lambert said the photos are confidential criminal justice information and she would only the release the photo following a court order.
As a result, a total of seven news organization filed requests by defense attorney Todd Whipple on Sept. 26 for the mugshot to be released, according to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.
“Greg Gianforte, as a publicly elected official of Congress, believes in transparency,” Whipple wrote in the brief, one-page response. Lambert has not released his official response, but has said he does not oppose releasing the mugshot either.
Lambert said he also doesn’t object to releasing Gianforte’s mugshot and plans to file his response Tuesday.
Brown will determine if the photo will be released, although it is unclear when she will issue the ruling.
