Grimm Explains His Balcony Threat: ‘Sometimes I Get My Italian Up’

Rep. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y., joins Republican colleagues at an event calling for reforms in the scandal plagued Veterans Administration, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, May, 29, 2014. The House Ethics Committe... Rep. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y., joins Republican colleagues at an event calling for reforms in the scandal plagued Veterans Administration, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, May, 29, 2014. The House Ethics Committee has put its investigation of the indicted congressman on hold so the Justice Department can proceed with its own probe of the lawmaker. Grimm, the only Republican representing a significant portion of New York City, was indicted in April on 20 counts of allegedly evading taxes by hiding more than $1 million in sales and wages while running a small Manhattan restaurant. The charges arose from a continuing investigation of his campaign fundraising. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) MORE LESS

By Ahiza Garcia

October 1, 2014 11:27 a.m.

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During his first debate on Wednesday with Democratic challenger Domenic Recchia, Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY) addressed the incident that occurred after this year’s State of the Union address when his threat to throw a reporter off a Capitol balcony was captured on camera.

“Sometimes I get my Italian up,” Grimm reportedly said during the debate. “I’m human.”

Wall Street Journal reporter Mara Gay live-tweeted the debate which was held at the The Bay Ridge Center for seniors in Brooklyn, N.Y.

The incident occurred in January of this year when NY1 reporter Michael Scotto asked Grimm about the then-ongoing federal investigation of him. When the interview was over, but with the camera still running, Grimm threatened to throw Scotto off the “fucking balcony.” Grimm was indicted in April on federal charges relating to a restaurant he was once involved with called Healthalicious.

Gay’s tweets:

“Sometimes I get my Italian up,” @repmichaelgrimm said of threatening to throw reporter off balcony. “I’m human.”

— Mara Gay (@MaraGay) October 1, 2014

“It’s a stressful job being in Congress,” @repmichaelgrimm says when asked about Scotto balcony incident. Says he was very sorry.

— Mara Gay (@MaraGay) October 1, 2014

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Ahiza Garcia Ahiza Garcia is a newswriter based in New York City. Before joining TPM, Ahiza interned and freelanced for Nightline, Fox Sports, and ESPN the Magazine. She holds a B.A. in psychology from Columbia University and an M.S. in digital journalism from Syracuse University. She can be reached at ahiza@talkingpointsmemo.com.

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