Assault inspired Heenan's run for Congress

The assault of a reporter by now-Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Mont., disturbed John Heenan so much that he decided to enter the race to unseat him in next year's election.

Heenan, a Democrat and consumer protection attorney from Billings, said in an interview Saturday that he was troubled not only by Gianforte assaulting Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs the day before last May's special U.S. House election, but also by Gianforte lying about the incident and acting like, Heenan said, he was above the law.

Heenan said that as an attorney he prosecutes people who he said are bullies and think they c...