Republican Michael Grimm, the U.S. Representative for New York, threatened a TV reporter Tuesday, saying that he would "cut him into half," after he was asked about his alleged campaign financial violations.
NY1 reporter Michael Scotto interviewed Grimm after President Barack Obama's State of the Union address in the Capitol. However, Scotto diverted from the matter and asked Grimm about the ongoing federal investigation about the campaign finances. The question angered him and he replied, "I'm not speaking about anything that is off-topic, this is only about the president's speech," and left the interview.
But that was not the end. As Scotto went back to report that Grimm was not interested in answering the question, the 43-year-old Republican attacked the NY1 reporter. The video footage shows Grimm talking to Scotto in a low voice. According to NY1, Grimm said, "Let me be clear to you, you ever do that to me again I'll throw you off this f*****g balcony."
Scotto responded to him saying that he wanted to ask him a valid question. Grimm replied angrily, "If you ever do that to me again... No, no, you're not man enough, you're not man enough. I'll break you in half. Like a boy."
Grimm, who is a former FBI agent, issued a statement late Tuesday, saying that he was "doing NY1 a favour" by giving the interview. "The reporter knew that I was in a hurry and was only there to comment on the State of the Union, but insisted on taking a disrespectful and cheap shot at the end of the interview, because I did not have time to speak off-topic. I verbally took the reporter to task and told him off, because I expect a certain level of professionalism and respect, especially when I go out of my way to do that reporter a favor. I doubt that I am the first member of Congress to tell off a reporter, and I am sure I won't be the last," he said, reported The New York Times.
Bob hardt, the political director of NY1 said in a statement that the news channel was both alarmed and disappointed by Grimm's aggressive behavior. He said the Congressman's behavior was out of line and they expected an apology. The FBI charged Grimm's donor Diana Durand of exceeding the maximum donation to his campaign and repaying friends for their contributions, reports NBC Politics. However, he is not charged with any unlawful activity.
