Michael Grimm

The Attempted Remaking of Michael Grimm

June 26, 2018 at 7:36 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Olivia Nuzzi has a must-read profile of former Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY), who is attempting a comeback in a Republican primary for his old seat today.

“Grimm owned one of the most centrist records in the 111th Congress. And then, after only four years in office, he resigned and assumed a new title: inmate 83479-053. He pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion after first being hit with a 20-count indictment related to his Upper East Side restaurant — mail and wire fraud, filing false tax returns, perjury, hiring and employing undocumented immigrants, and so on. The establishment was called Healthalicious…”

“In a more sane time in our political history, that might have been it for Michael Grimm’s political career. Maybe he’d have gotten lucky and ended up a Fox News pundit, or on the speaking circuit somewhere, or quietly and legally running Healthalicious 2.0. Fuhgeddabout holding office again as an ex-con best known for threatening graphic violence against a TV reporter as cameras rolled. But the sane times are over. In the ensuing handful of years, as he served his time in prison and got out, American politics came unglued in such a way that invited his return.”

Grimm Says Donovan Dangled Pardon to Not Run

June 15, 2018 at 6:54 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“During a debate on Monday, former Rep. Michael Grimm leveled a stunning charge against his primary opponent and successor in office, fellow Republican Dan Donovan — one that would be a potential ethical violation if true,” Politico reports.

“Grimm, who pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion charges in 2014 and spent seven months in prison, claimed Donovan offered to seek a presidential pardon for him if he would forgo a challenge to Donovan in the Republican primary this year. Donovan has acknowledged raising the issue of a pardon for Grimm with President Trump during a trip on Air Force One last summer.”

Grimm Leads In Primary Race for His Old Seat

June 4, 2018 at 7:58 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A new NY1/Siena College poll finds former Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY) leading Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY) by ten points, 47% to 37%.

President Trump endorsed Donovan in a tweet last week.

Grimm Gets Sweet Deal to Pay Off Debt

February 2, 2018 at 7:21 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Disgraced ex-Congressman Michael Grimm (R-NY), who’s running for his old job carrying President Trump’s ‘drain the swamp’ torch, got a pretty sweet deal from one of the swamp’s biggest lobbying firms,” the New York Daily News reports.

Instead of paying the $421,788, in a “confidential settlement” Grimm paid just $25,000. “That means Grimm, if elected, would go to Congress with a six-figure debt forgiven by one of the most entrenched lobbying firms in Washington, D.C.”

When reporter Greg Smith pressed for more details, spokesman Michael Caputo emailed: “Please print out my statement, roll it into a little ball, and shove it up your tight liberal ass Greg. Reporters like you are why Donald Trump won.”

Grimm Says ‘Corrupt Forces’ Were Behind Conviction

January 30, 2018 at 2:33 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Former Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY), who served seven months in prison for tax evasion, blamed his conviction in 2014 on the “same politically corrupt team of players” that he claims is driving the Russia investigation, the New York Daily News reports.

He named former FBI director James Comey and former Attorney General Loretta Lynch as part of a “politically corrupt team of players” and blamed them for everything “from sabotaging President Trump with the Russiagate conspiracy theory” to “letting Hillary Clinton off the hook in 2016.”

Quote of the Day

October 27, 2017 at 10:52 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“I remember saying to myself, I never realized what a large man — I mean stature-wise, he’s a big man, with massive hands. I don’t have small hands, but when I shook hands with him, the first time I shook hands with him, I realized he was a big man.”

— Former Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY), quoted by New York Magazine, on first meeting Donald Trump.

The article goes on to discuss how, after seven months in prison, Grimm is strategically attempting to draw “a kind of cosmic bond” between himself and Trump and his “real” and “regular” supporters.

Bannon Backs Grimm’s Comeback Bid

October 5, 2017 at 7:29 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Former congressman and convicted felon Michael Grimm (R-NY) returned to Washington in a bid to win support for his comeback congressional bid, Politico reports.

“Among the people whose support Grimm has secured is former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon. A person close to Bannon said the two met for about 30 minutes, and that the former White House aide had decided to back Grimm.”

Grimm Will Announce Bid for Congress

September 29, 2017 at 11:51 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Seventeen months after being released from prison for tax fraud, Michael Grimm (R) will formally announce his campaign for Congress, challenging the man who filled his seat when he pleaded guilty, Rep. Daniel Donovan (R-NY),” the Staten Island Advance reports.

“Grimm served eight months in federal prison beginning in 2015 after pleading guilty to a single count of tax fraud related to a Manhattan health food restaurant he co-owned before taking office.”

Grimm Will Run for His Old Seat

September 17, 2017 at 8:54 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

NY1 has learned that former Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY) “will run for his old seat, less than 16 months after he was released from federal prison.”

Sources said Grimm will hold a rally Oct. 1 where he is expected to announce his candidacy for next year’s Republican primary against current Rep. Dan Donovan.

Kelly Tries to Improve Information Given to Trump

August 2, 2017 at 9:11 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“When new White House chief of staff John Kelly huddled with senior staff on his first day at work, he outlined a key problem in President Trump’s White House that he planned to fix: Bad information getting into the president’s hands,” Politico reports.

“Kelly told the staff that information needed to flow through him — whether on paper or in briefings — because the president would make better decisions if given good information.”

Michael Grimm Eyes Return to Congress

August 2, 2017 at 9:09 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Sources told NY1 that former Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY) “is beginning to let a small number of political leaders on Staten Island know that he intends to run for Congress.”

“Any campaign would be a challenge for someone in Grimm’s position; he spent seven months in federal prison for tax fraud, and he was released in May of 2016.”

“Grimm also made headlines for threatening a NY1 reporter, Michael Scotto, with physical violence in 2014, saying he would throw Scotto off a balcony and break him in half while they spoke at the Capitol in Washington.”

Bonus Quote of the Day

May 6, 2016 at 4:02 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 18 Comments

“It’s been very challenging, to say the least, I wouldn’t wish it on my enemies, but it’s over. I’m really glad to be putting it past me.”

— Former Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY), quoted by NY1, on being released from prison.

Grimm Sentenced to Prison

July 17, 2015 at 1:09 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 13 Comments

Former Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY) has been sentenced to eight months in prison, the Staten Island Advance reports.

“The sentencing brings to a close months of speculation as to whether the scandal-scarred Grimm would see prison time or probation for hiding $1 million in sales receipts from his restaurant, Healthalicious, hiring undocumented immigrants and lying under oath in a 2013 civil deposition. He could have faced a maximum of three years behind bars, plus a year of supervised release.”

Judge Warns Cuomo He’ll Schedule a Special Election

February 17, 2015 at 6:15 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 24 Comments

A federal judge warned New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) that if he doesn’t schedule a special election to replace former Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY) by the end of the week, the court will do it for him, the Wall Street Journal reports.

“It’s been almost a month and a half since Mr. Grimm, a Republican, resigned from office after he pleaded guilty to tax evasion. Special elections in New York take place 70 to 80 days after a governor issues a proclamation to fill a vacancy. That means that Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn that make up the district will have to do without someone to represent them in the House of Representatives for at least 111 days.”

Grimm Took Illegal Payments After Election to Congress

February 13, 2015 at 12:13 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 6 Comments

Former Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY) “received $100,000 in under-the-table payments from a secret ownership stake he maintained in a health eatery after his election to Congress, federal prosecutors alleged in an affidavit unsealed Wednesday,” the New York Daily News reports.

“The Staten Island Republican pleaded guilty late last year to a felony count of filing false tax returns while part-owner of the Upper East Side restaurant, Healthalicious. Grimm resigned his seat last month.”

Grimm Will Resign from Congress

December 29, 2014 at 10:24 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 12 Comments

Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY) will resign on Tuesday or Wednesday, a week after he pleaded guilty to felony tax fraud, the New York Daily News reports.

Grimm spoke with House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) by phone Monday, according to Republicans familiar with the exchange.

Politico: “Boehner aides would not comment on their discussion, calling it a private talk between members.”

Grimm Won’t Step Down Despite Guilty Plea

December 23, 2014 at 5:01 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 18 Comments

Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY) said he “won’t step down, despite pleading guilty Tuesday to one of the 20 felony tax fraud charges he’s been battling since April — immediately raising questions about whether the New York Republican will be forced to resign his seat in Congress,” Roll Call reports.

Said Grimm: “Absolutely not. It happened before I was in Congress, and for the past four years I’ve been a strong, effective member of Congress. As long as I am able to serve, I’m going to serve, and that’s exactly what I plan on doing.”

Grimm May Not Get Jail Time

December 23, 2014 at 9:21 am EST By Taegan Goddard 14 Comments

Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY) “may not spend a day behind bars even if he pleads guilty Tuesday to a federal tax-evasion charge as expected,” the Staten Island Advance reports.

“Grimm’s lack of criminal history, his military service and years of service as an FBI agent should weigh in his favor, said experts.”

Meanwhile, The Hill reports that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is “turning the heat up” on Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), urging him to call for Grimm’s resignation.