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Michael Grimm (politician)

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This article is about the U.S. Representative from New York. For the America's Got Talent winner, see Michael Grimm (musician).
Michael Grimm
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 11th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2013
Preceded byYvette Clarke
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 13th district
In office
January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013
Preceded byMichael McMahon
Succeeded byCharles B. Rangel
Personal details
Born
Michael Gerard Grimm

(1970-02-07) February 7, 1970 (age 54)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Residence(s)Staten Island, New York, U.S.
Alma materBaruch College (B.B.A.)
New York Law School (J.D.)
OccupationMarine Corps (1989-1990, 1990-1991)

Reserves (1990,1991-1997)[1]

FBI Agent
businessman
ProfessionFBI special agent, entrepreneur
Awards Combat Action Ribbon
Meritorious Unit Commendation
WebsiteCampaign website
Rep Grimm
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Marine Corps
Years of service1989-1990, 1990-1991 (active)
1990, 1991-1997 (reserve)
Rank Corporal (E-4)
Battles/warsDesert Shield,
Desert Storm

Michael Gerard Grimm (born February 7, 1970) is the U.S. Representative for New York's 11th congressional district, which consists of Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn. He is a member of the Republican Party. He is a former FBI agent, businessman, attorney and Marine, having served in the Gulf War.

Early life, education, and military service

Michael Grimm was born in Brooklyn and was raised in Queens. He graduated from Archbishop Molloy High School, a Briarwood, Queens-based co-ed Roman Catholic school, in 1988.[citation needed]

Grimm entered active duty in the US Marine Corps in 1989. A year later, he was deployed to Iraq for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He received a combat promotion meritoriously to Corporal, Combat Action Ribbon, US Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, the Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon, and other medals. He was discharged from the US Marine Corps Reserves in 1997.[1]

Grimm received a BBA in accounting from Baruch College in 1994. He received a Juris Doctor (magna cum laude) from New York Law School in 2002. [citation needed]

FBI career

Michael Grimm entered the FBI as a professional support employee in 1991. In 1995, he entered the FBI Academy in Quantico Station, Virginia. He graduated as a special agent and was certified to become an undercover agent. He became a US Marshal and uniformed FBI Police Officer. He began as an FBI clerk and transitioned into undercover agent work, eventually working in the FBI Gambino Squad and was responsible for learning about the inside activities of Peter Gotti, John Gotti's brother.[4] Grimm worked for the FBI as an agent for 9 years.

In 2011, The New Yorker magazine reported that Grimm had been the subject of an internal investigation into allegations he abused his authority as a FBI agent in a nightclub in 1999. According to the article,[5] written by Evan Ratliff, the incident resulted from a dispute between Grimm and his date's husband. A former NYPD officer working as a bouncer at the time said that Grimm remarked about the husband, "I’ll fucking make him disappear where nobody will find him." Grimm reportedly then returned to the nightclub twice, pulled out his gun once, and brought FBI and NYPD officers the second time.

Grimm said the article was written by a reporter "on a witch hunt" and that "this incident was fully investigated and I was cleared of all of the ridiculous and absurd allegations. To further entertain this partisan attack on my exemplary career and service to this great nation would be to give [the allegation] credence, of which it deserves none." The New York Police Department and U.S. Justice Department have refused to release documents regarding the incident.[6][7][8] Ratliff subsequently released additional material corroborating his article.[9]

He also spent two years posing as a small cap stocks broker, uncovering white-collar criminals on Wall Street.[4] According to Grimm, the firm was involved in money laundering, making false trades, and manipulating stocks.[10] After building a strong case for two years, he and the firm's partners were arrested together, at which point, the police informed the group that they had been infiltrated by an undercover agent.[10] Grimm stated in 2011 that he has long been aware of the possibility that people may try to take revenge on him.[11] He left the FBI in 2006, citing his exhaustion from working long hours.[12]

Business career

Before joining the F.B.I., Grimm worked for a year for Whale Securities,[13] an investment banking firm.[14] After doing undercover work on Wall Street, but while still a federal agent, Grimm invested in Texas luxury real estate with former agent Carlos Luquis.[13] In 2006, Grimm founded a small health food restaurant called Healthalicious in Manhattan.[15] Since 2008, he has co-owned and served as principal and chief executive officer of Austin Refuel Transport, an Austin, Texas-based bio-fuel company.[16] Grimm still owns 28% of the company.[17] Since 2011, the company had eleven safety violations in its first two U.S. Department of Transportation checkups.[18]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2010

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in New York, 2010 § District 13*

Grimm launched his campaign for the 13th New York Congressional District seat on January 23, 2010.[19] Grimm was endorsed by former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani as well as Guy Molinari, a former U.S. Representative and Staten Island Borough President.[20] He was also endorsed by the Conservative Party of New York State. He was challenged by Michael Allegretti who was endorsed by former six term U.S. Representative Vito Fossella, the Staten Island Republican Party,[21] State Senator Andrew Lanza, and State Assemblyman Lou Tobacco.[22] Allegretti worked for the nonprofit Climate Group and cited his relationships with NYC Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.[23] Grimm chose not to even contest the Staten Island's party endorsement because of their “corrupt political culture” and “sham convention."[24] Their primary was marked by bitter negative attacks against each other, including one assertion by Allegretti that Grimm was "living a lie" for using a photo where he was wearing military badges he was not entitled to.[25] Grimm said he received military ribbons by means of an administrative error, which he only learned of in 2000 but despite knowing this he used a photo dating back to 1993 where he was wearing an Army Presidential Unit Citation, Army Meritorious Unit Commendation, and a Joint Meritorious Unit Award.[26] On September 14, Grimm defeated Allegretti 69%-31%.[27]

Grimm's win was divisive for the Republican Party leadership,[28] which was more in favor of Allegretti, as Grimm won in large part due to the effect of the endorsement of the New York State Conservative Party and Tea Party voters.[29] Michael Grimm's campaign gained national attention from Tea Party Republicans and the National Republican Congressional Committee, which contributed $90,000 to Grimm's campaign.[30] He received endorsements from high-profile Republicans, including Giuliani,[31] John McCain,[32] Sarah Palin.[33] and former President George H.W. Bush, who applauded his service in the Gulf War and as part of the intelligence community.[34]

The race between incumbent Michael McMahon (D-Staten Island) and Grimm was quite negative. For instance, on October 12, the Staten Island Advance reported that it had been receiving emails from the McMahon campaign attacking Grimm's business credentials.[35] The emails claimed that Grimm's real estate and restaurant investments were failures despite Grimm's repeated insistences that they were successful.[36] Grimm reportedly admitted in an interview with the Staten Island Advance newspaper that his former restaurant in Manhattan, Healthalicious, had been on the verge of bankruptcy, forcing him to sell his stake in it.[12] A major difference between the two candidates was the issue of the U.S. economic stimulus package, which the Staten Island Advance said was the "starkest contrast" among the two candidates. Grimm stated that the stimulus was a "huge waste" of taxpayer money and was ineffective in generating job creation and economic recovery, whereas McMahon cited improvements in the state budget and renovations on the Staten Island Expressway and the Saint George Ferry Terminal as direct successes of the stimulus.[37]

On November 2, 2010, Grimm defeated McMahon in the race by 51%-48%. The Staten Island Advance reported that Grimm won in large part due to his political signs, which became popular among his supporters. They stated, "McMahon raised my property taxes 18.5%".[38]

2012

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in New York, 2012 § District 11

Grimm, who was redistricted from the 13th district to the 11th district, was challenged by[39] Democrat Mark Murphy, a former aide to New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. Grimm won re-election to a second term 53%-46%.[40]

Fundraising controversy

Based on confidential interviews with followers of Orthodox Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto, a January 2012 article in the New York Times reported that Candidate Grimm engaged in "questionable fundraising" practices during his 2010 campaign. These practices allegedly included repeatedly soliciting one follower who had already donated $10,000 to Grimm's campaign for another $10,000, accepting cash donations exceeding $100, explaining a scheme to evade donation limits to another follower, and accepting a $25,000 donation for which the funds originated from a single person and passed through Rabbi Pinto's former aide, Ofer Biton.[41]

In August 2012, the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York acknowledged that it was investigating Grimm's 2010 campaign.[42] In November 2012, the House Ethics Committee decided to inquire into the campaign but agreed to "defer consideration" of it at the Department of Justice's request.[43]

In January 2014, the FBI arrested Diana Durand, a Houston-based fundraiser for Grimm, on charges that she had illegally donated more than $10,000 to Grimm's 2010 campaign. Durand allegedly gave the campaign $4,800, the legal limit, but then used straw donors to donate more than $10,000 illegally. The FBI also charged Durand with lying to Federal agents about the matter. Grimm denied any wrongdoing.[44] Later the same month, in an exchange partially captured on video, Grimm threatened an NY1 reporter, Michael Scotto, after Scotto attempted to ask Grimm questions about these allegations at the end of an on-camera interview. Grimm told Scotto, "...You ever do that to me again, I will throw you off this f-----g balcony," and "I will break you in half." [45] Grimm later characterized his own conduct as "verbally t[aking] the reporter to task."[46]

Tenure

During an interview of all freshmen Republican members with Sean Hannity, Rep.-Elect Grimm took exception to being asked if he was a conservative. He replied that he was "American first" and that "we have become way too polarized," indicating a desire for compromise with Democrats.[47] Grimm did not join the Tea Party Caucus within the House, and instead joined the more moderate Republican Main Street Partnership.[48] He is also a member of the conservative Republican Study Committee. Grimm was appointed to the House Financial Services Committee, which the Staten Island Advance observed as a major opportunity for Grimm to impact the debate on financial reform. Roughly 70,000 of his constituents were involved in financial services, making this a vital issue for his political profile.[49]

Following the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, Michael Grimm voiced support for "security-based situational awareness training", including how to spot suspicious people, when to run for an exit, and how to keep guards at close range. Grimm also said congressmen should consider carrying firearms. House Leader John Boehner called his suggestions an "excellent idea" and indicated that security would be a major focus for Congress in 2011.[50] Grimm was appointed to the House Republican Israel Caucus in January 2011, serving as co-chair.[51]

As a member of the House Financial Services Committee, Grimm introduced legislation that would require potential whistleblowers to report wrongdoing to their employers before reporting it to the Securities and Exchange Commission if they want to receive a cash reward from the SEC.[52]

Grimm voted to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in the House, as he had promised during his campaign,[53] but was challenged as being "hypocritical" by several Democrats for accepting the Congressional health-care plan.[54][55]

Grimm has made Israel a strong priority during his term. In February 2011, as House Republicans were pushing for deep cuts in discretionary spending, Grimm wrote a letter to Eric Cantor saying he would vote no to any budget that would reduce foreign aid to Israel.[56] Grimm was also named chair of the House Republican Policy Committee's Task Force on Foreign Policy.[57] He won re-election in 2012 with about 53% of the vote.[58]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships
  • Friends of Switzerland Caucus (Co-Chair)
  • House Republican Israel Caucus (Co-Chair)
  • House Oceans Caucus (Co-Chair)
  • International Conservation Caucus
  • Sportsmen's Caucus

References

  1. ^ a b "Congressman Michael Grimm". Combat Veterans for Congress. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  2. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/09/nyregion/michael-grimm-gop-congressman-fights-critics.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
  3. ^ Randall, Judy L. (November 4, 2010). "Michael Grimm, now congressman-elect, is living his fairy tale". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  4. ^ a b Saltonstall, David (November 14, 2009). "Ex-undercover Mafia buster, Michael 'Mikey Suits' Grimm, seeks Staten Island congressional seat". New York Daily News. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  5. ^ Ratliff, Evan (May 2, 2011). "The Mark: The F.B.I. Needs Informants, but What Happens When They Go Too Far?". New Yorker.
  6. ^ Tracy, Thomas (April 28, 2011). "DeBlasio to Grimm: Come clean about 1999 bar fight". The Brooklyn Paper. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  7. ^ Smith, Ben (April 25, 2011). "The FBI agent and the night club". Politico. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  8. ^ Paybarah, Azi (April 25, 2011). "'Guy With a Gun…Doesn't Need to Say Anything'". The New York Observer. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  9. ^ Ratliff, Evan (April 29, 2011). "Congressman Grimm and the Night Club". The New Yorker. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  10. ^ a b "Meet the Undercover FBI Agent-Turned-Freshman Congressman - Rep. Michael Grimm - Fox Nation". Fox News. January 19, 2011.
  11. ^ Heil, Emily (January 12, 2011). "Threats Not New for Former Lawmen". Roll Call. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  12. ^ a b Randall, Judy L. (July 11, 2010). "Gulf War vet, former FBI agent has 'a burning desire to serve'". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  13. ^ a b Cowan, Alison Leigh; Barnard, Anne; Rashbaum, William K. (Feb 15, 2012). "Congressman's Business Ties Are at Odds with Upright Image". N.Y. Times. Retrieved Sep 18, 2013.
  14. ^ "Company Overview of Whale Securities Co., L.P." Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved Sep 18, 2013.
  15. ^ "Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.) - The Washington Post". Whorunsgov.com. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  16. ^ "About Me: Full Biography". Grimm.house.gov. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  17. ^ Lesser, Benjamin (August 14, 2011). "Business associate of Staten Island Rep. Michael Grimm is convicted felon Carlos Luquis". Daily News. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  18. ^ Lesser, Benjamin (July 17, 2011). "Holiday shopping: Tips to find the best deals on Cyber Monday 2010". Daily News. New York.
  19. ^ Wrobleski, Tom (January 23, 2010). "Republican Michael Grimm launches campaign against McMahon on Staten Island". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  20. ^ "Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani to endorse GOP congressional candidate Michael Grimm". Staten Island Advance. February 18, 2010. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  21. ^ Saltonstall, David (May 28, 2010). "Staten Island GOP Committee Endorses Michael Allegretti for Vito Fossella's Old Congressional Seat". N.Y. Daily News.
  22. ^ Wroblewski, Tom (June 4, 2010). "Allegretti Collects Endorsements from Lanza and Tobacco". Staten Island Advance.
  23. ^ Hernandez, Raymond (Oct 23, 2009). "The City: Fight for Staten Island". N.Y. Times.
  24. ^ Slajda, Rachel (May 28, 2010). "Staten Island GOP, Deprived of Fossella, Chooses Allegretti". TPM.
  25. ^ Katz, Celeste (September 2, 2010). "Michaels Allegretti and Grimm Clash Again Over Military History In NY-13". New York Daily News. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  26. ^ Freedlander, David (August 31, 2010). "Allegretti Asks Grimm To Reveal Himself". Observer.com. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  27. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=620111
  28. ^ Wrobleski, Tom (October 6, 2010). "Staten Island GOP's endorsement of Grimm is less than resounding". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  29. ^ "Grimm routs Allegretti for GOP congressional nod". Staten Island Advance. September 15, 2010. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  30. ^ "TheDC Interview: Republican New York congressional candidate Michael Grimm". Daily Caller. October 21, 2010. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  31. ^ Spencer, Peter N. (October 29, 2010). "Giuliani buoys Grimm at Whitehall Ferry Terminal". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  32. ^ [1][dead link‍]
  33. ^ Chen, David W. (Sep 15, 2010). "Results Are Mixed for Tea Party in New York". New York Times.(coverage of the Grimm vs. McMahon race)
  34. ^ Wrobleski, Tom (October 9, 2010). "Former President George Bush endorses Michael Grimm". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  35. ^ Randall, Judy L. (October 12, 2010). "Staten Island Rep. McMahon peppers Advance with e-mails that rip Grimm". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  36. ^ Patten, David A. (Oct. 24, 2010, 5:59 PM). "2010: Democrats Set Records for Dirtiest Election Ever". Newsmax. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  37. ^ Wrobleski, Tom (October 11, 2010). "Stimulus dollars become political football in Staten Island congressional race". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  38. ^ Wrobleski, Tom (November 8, 2010). "'Tax signs' may have helped propel Michael Grimm to victory in Staten Island congressional race". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  39. ^ Randall, Judy L. (February 28, 2011). "Staten Island Rep. Michael Grimm: This is your life". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
  40. ^ http://www.politico.com/2012-election/map/#/House/2012/NY
  41. ^ Cowan, Alison Leigh; Rashbaum, William K. (Jan 27, 2012). "Rabbi's Followers Cast Doubt on Congressman's Fundraising". N.Y. Times. Retrieved Sep 18, 2013.
  42. ^ Cowan, Alison Leigh; Rashbaum, William K. (Aug 8, 2012). "Congressman's Report of Trip Is at Issue". N.Y. Times. Retrieved Sep 18, 2013.
  43. ^ Cowan, Alison Leigh (Nov 26, 2012). "Ethics Panel to Scrutinize Congressman from S.I." N.Y. Times. Retrieved Sep 18, 2013.
  44. ^ Rashbaum, William K. (Jan 2014). "F.B.I. Arrests Fund-Raiser for Congressman". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  45. ^ Lavender, Paige (Jan 28, 2014). "Michael Grimm Gets in Reporter's Face, Reportedly Threatens Him (VIDEO)". Huffington Post.
  46. ^ "Michael Grimm Threatens". Politicker. Jan 28, 2014. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  47. ^ FoxNews.com, Hannity's Freshman Focus Group, Jan 4, 2011, at 5:30 mark
  48. ^ Freedlander, David (January 28, 2011). "NY Tea Partiers Join 'Moderate' G.O.P. Caucus". The New York Observer. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  49. ^ "Staten Island's Grimm lands spot on House Financial Services Committee". Staten Island Advance. December 10, 2010. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  50. ^ O'Neill, Natalie (January 14, 2011). "Grimm: House members should pack heat if they want". The Brooklyn Paper. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  51. ^ Randall, Judy L. (January 31, 2011). "Rep. Michael Grimm named co-chair of House Republican Israel Caucus". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  52. ^ Kate Shepherd (11 May 2011). "Republicans take aim at whistleblower rule". MarketWatch. Medill News Service. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  53. ^ Brooklyn Eagle, Bay Ridge Eagle Brooklyn, NY :: daily paper in Brooklyn[dead link‍]
  54. ^ Tracy, Thomas (January 20, 2011). "Dems take on Grimm's 'job-killing canard' in health care debate". The Brooklyn Paper. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  55. ^ Sisk, Richard (January 19, 2011). "Rep. Michael Grimm takes beating from fellow congressmen for his health care comments". Daily News. New York.
  56. ^ Danko, Carol. "Grimm Stands Up for Israel; Opposes Cuts to Aid" (Press release). Washington: U.S. Congressman Michael Grimm.
  57. ^ "Staten Island's Rep. Grimm named chair of GOP Policy Committee's Task Force on Foreign Policy". Staten Island Advance. February 16, 2011. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  58. ^ New York Times Election Results 2012
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Michael Grimm (politician).
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 11th congressional district
January 3, 2013 – present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 13th congressional district
January 3, 2011 – 2013 		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States Representatives by seniority
302nd 		Succeeded by

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