Subscribe
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE

After President Barack Obama‘s State Of The Union address last night (January 28), things got a little tense between a reporter and a Republican congressman. Rep. Michael Grimm of New York threatened to throw the newsman over a balcony after being asked about a federal investigation.

Grimm, who represents Staten Island, has been dealing with issues surrounding his campaign finances, which has gotten the attention of the government. The congressman was approached by NY1 reporter  Michael Scotto inside the United States Capitol building, when he began to ask Grimm about the fundraising investigation. As Rep. Grimm stormed off, Scotto tried to explain to viewers what happened before the violent exchange occurred.

“Let me be clear to you, you ever do that to me again I’ll throw you off this f—–g balcony,” Grimm can be heard saying, according to NY1’s depiction.

“Why, why, I just wanted to ask you?” Scotto said in response.

Scotto continued with,”why, why it’s a valid question” to which Grimm replied “No, no, you’re not man enough, you’re not man enough. I’ll break you in half. Like a boy.”

NY1’s political director demanded an apology from Grimm, but was instead rebuffed in a statement from Grimm released.

“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,” Grimm said in the statement.

Grimm ended his statement by simply adding that he’s certainly not the first congressperson to get testy with a reporter and wouldn’t be the last.

However, the New York Daily News reports that Grimm called Scotto earlier today and apologized, saying he “overreacted” to the questioning on Tuesday night.

Grimm, 43, is a former Marine and undercover FBI agent. He is also the only Republican congressman in New York. Although he has not been charged in the investigation, a former girlfriend and another fellow fundraiser have since been arrested.

Hit the jump to see the video of Rep. Michael Grimm threatening the news reporter with the fade.

[New York Times]

Photo: NY1

1 2Next page »