This Is Your Congress – NY Rep. Apologizes After Threat To Throw Journalist Off Balcony & “Break Him In Half”

Grimm's statement last night…

I was extremely annoyed because I was doing NY1 a favor by rushing to do their interview first in lieu of several other requests. The reporter knew that I was in a hurry and was only there to comment on the State of the Union, but insisted on taking a disrespectful and cheap shot at the end of the interview, because I did not have time to speak off-topic. I verbally took the reporter to task and told him off, because I expect a certain level of professionalism and respect, especially when I go out of my way to do that reporter a favor. I doubt that I am the first Member of Congress to tell off a reporter, and I am sure I won’t be the last.

and his hurried apology this morning (via @sahilkapur )

The ubiquitous apology that solves all problems…

Breaking – On NY1 now. Grimm calls @mikescotto to apologize, after threatening injury to DC reporter for asking ques on criminal probe.

— Josh Robin (@joshrobin) January 29, 2014

And the initial outburst…

Submitted by Mike Krieger of Liberty Blitzkrieg blog,

My home state of New York sure knows how to pick its Congressional Representatives. From Peter King, who for all intents and purposes thinks he is living the life of a capo in a real life Goodfellas movie, to Michael Grimm, another Republican Congressman, these people are literally thugs. As I have said before, I have a lot more respect for the mafia than I do for politicians and bankers, at least the mob faces jail time.

So here’s what happened. From Real Clear Politics:

After being asked by NY1 reporter Michael Scotto about the investigation, Grimm replied, “That’s off-topic. This is only about president’s speech,” and walked off camera.

Scotto briefly concluded his report, and Grimm — assuming the broadcast was over — returned to admonish the reporter. The camera remained on, however. “Let me be clear to you: You ever do that to me again, I’ll throw you off this f##king balcony,” Grimm threatened.

After a brief back-and-forth about the validity of the question, Grimm concluded, “No, no, you’re not man enough, you’re not man enough. I’ll break you in half. Like a boy.”