Despite widespread news coverage that House Republicans have abandoned him, Congressman Michael Grimm bragged to Fox Business that his colleagues have expressed support for his re-election – and conveniently left out their names.
Congressman Grimm was arrested by the FBI earlier this year on federal fraud charges and slapped with a 20-count indictment. Before his 20-count federal indictment, Congressman Grimm threatened a local reporter on camera at the State of the Union Address. If Congressman Grimm’s House Republican colleagues have done an about-face and are now lining up to support him, even while he’s facing a 20-count indictment, he should tell voters exactly who is backing him.
“Congressman Michael Grimm should tell us exactly who in this toxic Republican Congress is supporting his re-election,” said Marc Brumer of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Either Congressman Grimm is being dishonest again, or there are some Republicans in Congress with some very questionable ethical standards. Even though he was arrested by the FBI and indicted on 20 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the United States, Congressman Grimm expects us to believe that his House Republican colleagues are supporting him. If his Republican colleagues in Congress have done an about face and are now supporting him, Congressman Grimm should tell us who they are.”
BACKGROUND:
Grimm Claimed to Have Support from Congressional Republicans.
Congressman Michael Grimm bragged to Fox Business that his colleagues have expressed support for his re-election, but he conveniently failed to specify who.
[Fox Business, 8/13/14]
Grimm was Federally Indicted on 20 Counts.
In April 2014, Grimm was indicted on 20 felony counts, including wire fraud, mail fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the United States. According to the indictment, Grimm “caused and authorized the filings of false New York State Form ST-100 quarterly sales tax returns with the New York State Tax Department. These false filings fraudulently concealed approximately $1.3 million in Healthalicious’ gross sales over that period, causing a substantial loss to New York State.”
[United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, Case no. 1:14-cr-00238, Indictment filed 4/25/14].
Grimm Threatened a NY1 Reporter.
In January 2014, Grimm threatened NY1 reporter Michael Scotto after the State of the Union, when Scotto followed up questions about the President’s speech with questions about the federal investigation into Grimm’s campaign finances: “Let me be clear to you, you ever do that to me again I’ll throw you off this f—— balcony,” Grimm said. “You’re not man enough, you’re not man enough. I’ll break you in half. Like a boy.”
[Daily News, 1/29/14]
Republican Leaders Shut Off Support to Rep. Michael Grimm.
In April 2014, the Daily News reported that the NRCC had removed Grimm from its “Patriot” fundraising program. He was also disinvited from a May 21 NRCC fundraiser.
[Daily News, 4/29/14]
Grimm Raised Only $24,000 in June.
In July 2014, the NY State of Politics blog reported that Grimm had raised only $24,000 in June.
[NYStateofPolitics.com, posted 7/15/14]