Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) got into a tense confrontation with a Politico reporter who questioned him about domestic abuse allegations his ex-wife laid out in a report the site published Tuesday, threatening to have the journalist arrested.
As Grayson exited an event hosted by Politico at the Democratic National Convention, reporter Edward-Isaac Dovere approached Grayson to ask about his ex-wife’s allegations that he physically abused her for two decades of their 25-year marriage. Lolita Grayson provided police and medical records to Politico documenting four alleged instances of abuse; charges weren’t filed against the congressman in any of those incidents. The congressman also stridently denied Lolita Grayson’s allegations that he threatened to kill her and twice forced her to seek medical attention, according to the report.
Video captured by another Politico reporter showed the Florida Democrat repeatedly telling Dovere that he was keeping him from leaving the building.
“You’re getting in my way,” Grayson says in the video, placing his hand on Dovere’s shoulder as he moved through a doorway.
“You’re getting in my way,” Grayson repeats, again making physical contact with the reporter.
“I’m asking you a question,” Dovere insists.
“You’re assaulting a member of Congress,” Grayson replies. “You’re pushing me.”
The Florida Democrat appears increasingly agitated over the course of the minute-and-a-half long clip, at one point asking security to escort Dovere out.
Dovere then follows Grayson to the elevator banks, where the camera continues rolling.
“You said it was hypocritical in 2012 for the media not to cover these allegations about your opponent, now you say it’s ridiculous to talk about yours,” the reporter said.
During his 2012 campaign for Congress, Grayson’s staffers dug through Republican opponent Todd Long’s divorce file to highlight a claim from the candidate’s ex-wife that Long had been “abusive and manipulative.”
Grayson, who declined to be interviewed for Politico’s story on his ex-wife’s fresh allegations against him, doesn’t answer Dovere’s question. Instead, he asks Dovere if he thinks this is the “proper way to conduct an interview.”
He brushes off Dovere’s suggestion that attending a public Politico event on the day the story detailing the domestic abuse allegations was published invited questions, particularly given that Grayson is an elected official.
“That gives you the right to push me?” Grayson asks.
“You pushed me, sir,” Dovere replies, pointing out that the altercation is being recorded.
“I’m going to be handing that over to the Capitol police, my friend,” Grayson says as he enters the elevator.
“I’m hoping that somebody comes here and arrests you,” he adds.
The Orlando Democrat is running for Senate in Florida this year.
Politico’s video of the incident is posted below.
