A New York congressman accosted a reporter after President Obama’s State of the Union address on Tuesday, reportedly threatening to throw him off a balcony on Capitol Hill.
Republican Rep. Michael Grimm confronted the reporter, NY1’s Michael Scotto, on camera, allegedly saying “I will break you in half,” according to NY1 political director Bob Hardt and video of the incident.
S.I. Rep. Michael Grimm physically threatens Washington D.C. reporter Michael Scotto. The full video will on NY1’s website shortly.
— Bob Hardt (@Bobmagic01) January 29, 2014
@mikiebarb @eorden @repmichaelgrimm @mikescotto He threatened to throw him over the balcony and then said “I will break you in half” more tk
— Bob Hardt (@Bobmagic01) January 29, 2014
The congressman accosted Scott after their brief interview on Grimm’s reaction to the president’s speech. Scotto had attempted to ask Grimm about alleged campaign corruption, when the congressman refused to speak off topic and abruptly walked off camera.
But the camera kept rolling after Scotto tossed back to the anchors, when Grimm returned and verbally accosted the reporter (see video above).
Grimm released the following statement shortly after midnight on Wednesday in response to the situation:
“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.”