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Published On: Wed, Jan 29th, 2014

NY Congressman Michael Grimm threatens to throw NY1 reporter ‘off the balcony’

In an interview following the State of the Union address Tuesday night, local news channel, NY1 reporter Michael Scotto got to feel the outrage and threats from New York Republican Rep. Michael Grimm as the questioning switched from the SOTU to ongoing federal investigation into his 2010 campaign fundraising.

Image/Video Screen Shot

Image/Video Screen Shot

After the questions about the SOTU, in which Grimm described as “divisive”, Scotto asked, “And just finally before we let you go, we haven’t had a chance to talk about some of the…” , however the reporter was cut off by the Congressman.

“I’m not speaking to you off-topic, this is only about the president,” said Grimm, before walking off camera.

But Grimm didn’t leave it at that.

As Scotto was talking to the camera, Grimm returned and this is what went down (Watch the exchange here):

“What?” Scotto responded. “I just wanted to ask you…”

Grimm: “Let me be clear to you, you ever do that to me again I’ll throw you off this f—–g balcony.”

Scotto: “Why? I just wanted to ask you…”

[[cross talk]]

Grimm: “If you ever do that to me again…”

Scotto: “Why? Why? It’s a valid question.”

[[cross talk]]

Grimm: “No, no, you’re not man enough, you’re not man enough. I’ll break you in half. Like a boy.”

Transcript from NY1

What Scotto wanted to ask about before this strange scene was the ongoing campaign finance investigation around Grimm’s  2010 campaign. Grimm has been linked to an allegedly corrupt Israeli rabbi and his ex-girlfriend has been indicted on charges of being a straw donor, among other controversies.

Rep. Grimm did release the following statement after the incident:

“I was extremely annoyed because I was doing NY1 a favor by rushing to do their interview first in lieu of several other requests. 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.”

 

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About the Author

- Roxanne "Butter" Bracco began with the Dispatch as Pittsburgh Correspondent, but will be providing reports and insights from Washington DC, Maryland and the surrounding region. Contact Roxie aka "Butter" at theglobaldispatch@gmail ATTN: Roxie or Butter Bracco

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