Newly-indicted Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY) has a friend in Geraldo Rivera.
“Are you kidding me?” Rivera said on his WABC radio show on Tuesday, according to The New York Observer. “You indict an FBI hero agent, a combat veteran of the United States Marines, a two-term congressman, the only Republican in the area, and you indict him for hiring undocumented immigrants? You go to any kitchen of any restaurant in this city, you’re going to find undocumented immigrants!”
Federal prosecutors unsealed a 20-count indictment against Grimm on Monday. The charges stem from Grimm’s time running a New York City restaurant called Healthalicious. The government says Grimm concealed over a million dollars in gross receipts, along with hundreds of thousands of dollars of employees’ wages. The charges against Grimm include wire and mail fraud, helping prepare false tax returns, perjury, and — as Rivera pointed out Tuesday — hiring undocumented workers. Rivera said that charge in particular suggested the prosecution of the Staten Island congressman was a “pathetic, politically motivated witch hunt.”
“For Michael Grimm to be indicted for hiring undocumented immigrants in New York City – the sanctuary city of sanctuary cities – is a pathetic, politically motivated witch hunt,” Rivera said. “Congressman Michael Grimm is absolutely right: This is appalling. This is insulting. I mean, if you want to indict him for some hanky panky, then do it. Find some evidence. But you can’t indict a person who stands in exactly the same place as 5,000 other restaurant owners.”
Rivera also questioned the timing of the charges, according to The Observer.
“Not only did they indict him for a lame charge, but they indicted him after the date when he could drop out and the Republicans could replace him with somebody,” Rivera said. “So you tell me this isn’t political? Give me a break! And Michael Grimm is a great guy. I know him personally. We have hung out together. He’s one of the few people I stood shoulder-to-shoulder with in the last election. A hero!”
Does anyone else remember when Rivera was relevant?
Al Capone’s vault was empty, too.
Someone needs to remind Mr. Rivera that the MAIN charges are tax evasion, wire fraud and hiding employee wages. The hiring illegals charge is a throw in to ensure whatever deal he bargains for, the price goes up.
I’m sort of amazed at the lack of self-awareness from certain people - Geraldo, Donald Trump, Bill Kristol, La Palin - who don’t seem to grasp that their endorsements are pretty much the Kiss of Death.