The Hill: Dem rep to media: My office a ‘bodyslam free zone’

Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) says that his office is a "bodyslam free zone" for the media following an alleged physical confrontation between GOP House candidate Greg Gianforte and a reporter in Montana.

"Dear Press: We have created a safe zone in our office," he tweeted with the hashtag #ThursdayThoughts. "Reporters will (1) get the truth and (2) not get body slammed."

Lieu's tweet includes a sign outside his office declaring it a "#AlternativeFacts Free Zone Period" and a "Bodyslam Free Zone."

The California lawmaker in an earlier tweet Thursday also urged Montana voters to choose Democratic House candidate Rob Quist.

The race between Gianforte and Quist has drawn national attention, with both parties looking for evidence on whether President Trump is hurting GOP candidates across the country.

The pair is competing over the seat vacated by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, with polls in Montana closing at 10 p.m. EST.

Gianforte cancelled appearances on two cable news networks on Thursday following criminal charges against him the night before.

Montana law enforcement officials on Wednesday evening charged Gianforte with misdemeanor assault following an alleged physical altercation between him and a reporter.

Gianforte allegedly slammed the Guardian's Ben Jacobs at the candidate's campaign headquarters in Bozeman after receiving a question about the GOP's ObamaCare repeal plan.

The Republican denies Jacobs's charges, but the incident has roiled a race that he is seen as a slight favorite to win.