Michael Grimm, a Republican from New York, lost his
temper during an interview with NY1 News television immediately after
President Barack Obama's State of the Union address on Tuesday.
"I'm
not talking about anything that's off topic. This is only about the
president's speech," Grimm said, after the NY1 journalist asked him
about an investigation into campaign finances.
Grimm
stepped off screen but, after the reporter noted on camera that Grimm
refused to discuss the investigation, he returned for a physical
altercation that was largely captured on video.
"Let me be clear to you, you ever do that to me again I'll throw you off this f***ing balcony," Grimm said, in video broadcast by the station, which confirmed Grimm's comments.
Pressed by the reporter so
say why such a question was off limits, Grimm responded: "You're not man
enough, you're not man enough. I'll break you in half. Like a boy."
Station political director Bob Hardt called the incident "extremely disturbing."
"The NY1 family is certainly alarmed and disappointed by the behavior of Representative Grimm and demands a full apology from him," Hardt said.
Grimm, a former US Marine and FBI special agent, issued a statement late Tuesday, but not an apology.
He
said he had become "extremely annoyed" because, in the rush to do the
interview with NY1 after Obama's speech, the reporter took a "cheap
shot" by asking a question off-topic.
"I verbally took the reporter to task and told him off, because I expect a certain level of professionalism and respect," Grimm said. "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."
Grimm, 43, is a two-term congressman from Staten Island, New York. New
York Mayor Bill De Blasio reportedly described Grimm's actions as
"absolutely inappropriate," and called on the House of Representatives
leadership to sanction the lawmaker.
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