<mediadc-video-embed data-state="{"cms.site.owner":{"_ref":"00000161-3486-d333-a9e9-76c6fbf30000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b93390000"},"cms.content.publishDate":1655616077403,"cms.content.publishUser":{"_ref":"0000017f-6513-d818-adff-7f7fbe340000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"cms.content.updateDate":1655616077403,"cms.content.updateUser":{"_ref":"0000017f-6513-d818-adff-7f7fbe340000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"rawHtml":"
var _bp = _bp||[]; _bp.push({ "div": "Brid_55396539", "obj": {"id":"27789","width":"16","height":"9","video":"1034104"} }); ","_id":"00000181-7a68-dd13-a9fb-7a6e41330000","_type":"2f5a8339-a89a-3738-9cd2-3ddf0c8da574"}”>Video EmbedMontana Gov. Greg Gianforte was vacationing in Italy as he authorized his lieutenant governor to declare a “statewide disaster” amid severe flooding in Yellowstone National Park, his office confirmed.
The governor’s office said on Friday that the Montana Republican was on a “long-scheduled personal trip” with his wife Susan in Tuscany when the flooding began and would cut his trip short to return home “as quickly as possible.” He arrived back in Montana on Thursday evening and visited the affected counties alongside Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) the next day.
YELLOWSTONE FLOOD KNOCKS OUT MONTANA TOWN’S WATER TREATMENT PLANT
Questions about Gianforte’s whereabouts were first raised on Monday after a statewide disaster declaration for the devastating floods was signed by Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras “on behalf of Governor Greg Gianforte.” The governor’s office refused to acknowledge his whereabouts in the two days that followed, eventually admitting on Wednesday that he was out of the country and would return as soon as he could.
His office refused to specify Gianforte’s location at the time, citing unspecified security concerns. Newsy, a local news outlet, reported Thursday that it had obtained a photo of the governor and his wife at a restaurant in Casole d’Elsa, a small village in Tuscany. The website declined to publish the photo, which it alleged was time-stamped at 9:31 p.m. local time Wednesday.
Upon returning to Montana, Gianforte’s office confirmed the Tuscany trip and defended their lack of clarity about his whereabouts, arguing that confirming a U.S. governor’s location while abroad could create security concerns.
“With the governor back in the state and security concerns no longer an issue, we are providing information as promised,” his office said.
The office also noted that the governor had been in touch with federal and local officials about responding to the floods while abroad.
Asked by a Montana Free Press reporter if he could’ve handled the situation differently while touring the devastated regions Friday, Gianforte said, “No one could have predicted what happened this week. We haven’t seen flooding like this in 100 years.”
Instead, he urged tourists not to cancel any travel to the area, suggesting visitors consider surrounding communities. He also celebrated the emergency response to the flooding, noting that there had been no deaths or serious injuries reported.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) declined to give the GOP governor any grief about the situation, acknowledging to the Associated Press that he was in Washington, D.C., this past week working on a bill for veterans.
“Some could say, ‘Jon, why didn’t you come back Tuesday or Wednesday?’” he told the outlet. “These are hard situations. I don’t know what his circumstances were. … I’ve got a decent working relationship with the governor and want to continue that.”
