MELTDOWN IN MONTANA

The race to fill Montana's sole seat in the U.S. House of Representatives took a violent turn Wednesday, and a crew from the Fox News Channel witnessed it firsthand.

Reporter Alicia Acuna wrote that she watched Republican Greg Gianforte grab a news reporter by the neck with both hands and slammed him into the ground behind him.

Acuna wrote that she “watched in disbelief as Gianforte then began punching the reporter.”

CITED FOR ASSAULT

Greg Gianforte, the GOP House candidate in Montana who was neck-and-neck with his Democratic opponent before Thursday's special election, was cited for misdemeanor assault after an incident with a newspaper reporter.

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that there was probable cause to issue a citation, but the nature of the injuries “did not meet the statutory elements of a felony assault.”

NEWSPAPERS TAKE BACK ENDORSEMENTS

The Billings Gazette wrote an editorial late Wednesday declaring that it has rescinded its endorsement of GOP House hopeful Greg Gianforte after allegations that he assaulted a news reporter.

“If what was heard on tape and described by eye-witnesses is accurate, the incident in Bozeman is nothing short of assault. We wouldn't condone it if it happened on the street. We wouldn't condone it if it happened in a home or even a late-night bar fight. And we couldn't accept it from a man who is running to become Montana's lone Congressional representative,” the paper wrote.

TRUMP WIDENS SEARCH FOR FBI HEAD

President Trump has widened his search for a new FBI director after sources told Fox News that his recent frontrunner, former Sen. Joe Lieberman, is out to the running to fill the vacancy.

Politico reported that Democrats were opposed to the idea of a former politician taking the position-- despite the fact that Lieberman was a former Democrat and later an Independent.

'HANNITY'

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich told Fox News' "Hannity" Wednesday that President Trump's first foreign trip as chief executive would be remembered as a "historic turning point" in the struggle against Islamic terrorism.

Gingrich reserved special praise for Trump's speech to Muslim leaders in Saudi Arabia, during which the president called for a "coalition of nations" to "stamp out extremism" and "drive out the terrorists from your places of worship."

'HANNITY': HOST: THE RUSSIAN COLLUSION THEORY IS CRUMBLING

COMING UP ON FOX BUSINESS

8:50 AM ET: Mick Mulvaney, director Of the Office of Management and Budget, will visit "Mornings with Maria"

11 AM ET: Grover Norquist will be a guest on "Varney & Company," then at 5 PM ET on "Risk and Reward"

2 PM ET: Scott Flanders, eHealth CEO, will appear on "The Intelligence Report"

COMING UP ON FOX NEWS CHANNEL

9:45 AM ET: Senate Budget Committee holds hearing on Trump's FY18 Budget Proposal. OMB Director Mulvaney testifies.

3:30 PM ET: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg delivers the commencement address at Harvard. Watch live on FoxNews.com

10:30 AM ET: Attorney General Sessions speaks with federal, state, and local law enforcement about efforts to combat violent crime and restore public safety. Memphis, TN