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
“Sometimes I Get My Italian Up”
…and when it stays up over 4 hours, I have to seek medical attention
Nicely done, asshole: you manage simultaneously to disavow any personal responsibility for impulse control, and hide behind the ethnic stereotype. A two-fer!
I’ve known men who’ve named their man parts, but never has anyone called it “My Italian.”
Shorter Michael: Hey! Don’t blame me! I’m just an ethnic cartoon.
Now that’s a spicy meatball!