all last night after the sheriff's office announced they had cited him for misdemeanor assault. >> what do you know about gianforte and his behavior in the past? >> reporter: well, his first run for public office was last year. and he has a history of sometimes getting testy with reporters or becoming flustered. which a lot of us just thought was him learning political graces as a first time candidate. there was an editorial board meeting at the missoulan. they were asking him persist tent question about refugee are resettlement. he started raising his voice, pounded the fist on the table and at one point threw his phone down on the table. that's the extent of any confrontations with the press. what happened last night was surprising for all of us.