An attorney for New York Representative Michael Grimm said the congressman is being charged with federal crimes related to allegations of campaign finance violations that date back to his first campaign in 2009 and 2010.
The charges come after a House Ethics Committee inquiry was put on hold in November due to a separate Department of Justice investigation, the Associated Press reported.
From the AP:
A spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in Brooklyn said Friday he couldn't confirm, deny or comment on the case. The FBI's New York office, which handles investigations, also declined to comment.
Grimm's attorney, William McGinley, said in a statement he wasn't surprised by the impending charges, which he didn't disclose. But he maintained the lawmaker had done nothing wrong.
"After more than two years of investigation plagued by malicious leaks, violations of grand jury secrecy, and strong-arm tactics, the U.S. Attorney's Office has disclosed its intent to file criminal charges against Congressman Grimm," he said in the statement. "When the dust settles, he will be vindicated."
Grimm and the allegations against him became more widely known in January when he was caught on tape threatening to throw a television report off a balcony. The incident can be seen in the video above.
The reporter, NY1’s Michael Scotto, was asking Grimm about his campaign finances when the congressman stormed off. After Scotto finished his report, Grimm came back into frame and made the now infamous threat.
Grimm has since apologized to Scotto for the incident.
You can reach me at douglas.saffir@globe.com. Follow me @dougsaffir
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