Defiant Grimm lashes out at media
Defiant Grimm In his most wide-ranging interview since federal prosecutors charged him with widespread fraud, Michael Grimm on Tuesday accused the media of trying to destroy him and vowed to fight hard for re-election — even as the New York Republican acknowledged that his fundraising had dropped to the point of drying up out. cannot broadcast TV commercials. The former Marine and FBI agent argued that he was not a “bad boy” in Congress, but that GOP leaders, including Speaker John Boehner, were acting “politically” when they refused to support his re-election bid as a competitive Staten Island -member of Congress. district. Grimm, now literally running his own campaign after his lone full-time political aide left last week, vowed to prove his doubters wrong.
“There’s no question, since the day I got here, I’ve been vilified by the press,” Grimm said in a tense 22-minute interview at Hinsch’s Diner in Brooklyn. “They had to figure out how to get rid of this guy from the beginning.” While condemning the media, Grimm defended his record of serving constituents and his aggressive personal style, but admitted he was wrong to physically threaten a reporter earlier this year. who asked about his legal problems.
Although he called the 20-count federal indictment a “serious” case worthy of media coverage, Grimm painted himself as the victim of a sensationalist liberal press corps. The 44-year-old two-term congressman said voters “are behind me now more than ever because I get results.” “And the press focuses on the most ridiculous nonsense I can dream of. Look, I’ll summarize. What do I think of the press? I’m thinking now, and it’s been like this for two years: If I pass a burning building, stop, run in and save a baby, you know what the headline will be? “Grimm sets the fire.” It’s just reality.” When asked if he was innocent of the charges, Grimm paused for four seconds before laughing softly.
“But I’ll tell you,” he continued. “What I am guilty of is doing my best to give 100 percent of myself and my heart and soul to representing the people of Staten Island and Brooklyn. But I believe that when all is said and done, he will be acquitted and I think the people who supported him will be proud of him.”
Grimm seems more and more isolated. At the Staten Island Memorial Day parade a day earlier, Grimm, unlike other politicians, did not march with other elected officials. About 75 yards after, his Democratic opponent, former New York City Rep. Domenic Recchia, joined Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo and a group of local lawmakers, including Republicans.
