Thread: Federal prosecutors are preparing criminal charges against Rep. Michael Grimm

Federal prosecutors are preparing criminal charges against Rep. Michael Grimm after a two-year FBI investigation, U.S. officials say.

Feds close to filing charges against Rep. Michael Grimm, officials say

By Evan Perez and Shimon Prokupecz, CNN
updated 4:37 PM EDT, Fri April 25, 2014

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Prosecutors are preparing charges against New York lawmaker
• FBI has been investigating the Republican for two years
• Case centers on business dealings and his campaign for Congress in 2010
• Grimm's lawyer says the congressman asserts his innocence, blasts investigation

(CNN) -- Federal prosecutors are preparing criminal charges against Rep. Michael Grimm, capping a two-year FBI investigation that ranges from his business dealings to his first campaign for Congress in 2010, U.S. officials briefed on the matter said.

In recent months, public attention has focused on the 44-year-old House member's campaign donations after a friend and donor was charged with funneling illegal contributions to Grimm's campaign four years ago.

The former FBI agent and two-term Republican lawmaker from New York made headlines when he was shown on camera threatening to throw a reporter over the Capitol Hill balcony after an interview following the State of the Union address in January.

A former Marine, Grimm represents the borough of Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn, and is a darling of tea party conservatives.

The U.S. attorney's office in Brooklyn declined to comment on the expectation charges could be filed as soon as next week.

An attorney for Grimm, William McGinley said in a statement to CNN that that Grimm "asserts his innocence of any wrongdoing" and that "we are disappointed by the government's decision, but hardly surprised."

McGinley said the investigation has been plagued by malicious leaks, violations of grand jury secrecy, and strong-arm tactics," saying that from the beginning, the government has pursued a politically driven vendetta against Congressman Grimm and not an independent search for the truth."

He said Grimm would remain in office.

Prosecutors from that office and the Justice Department's public integrity section in Washington have been reviewing details of the case against Grimm in recent weeks, and have decided to proceed with charges, the officials said.

Charges are expected to relate to Grimm's previous business dealings and alleged false statements he provided when questioned by the government about them. Precise details couldn't be learned.

Investigators have previously focused on Grimm's involvement with a former donor and ownership of a Manhattan restaurant, Healthalicious. The donor, Ofer Biton, has pleaded guilty to filing false documents in an investor visa application.

If prosecutors bring charges, they will have to do so without the help of a Grimm donor and friend, Donna Durand, who hasn't provided the testimony against the lawmaker that prosecutors sought, her lawyer said.

Attorney Stuart Kaplan said negotiations with the government have failed to produce a deal, and Kaplan now expects them to secure an indictment against Durand.

"The government made clear the door is open. They would like her to in and talk about Michael Grimm," said Kaplan, a former FBI colleague with Grimm. "She just doesn't have anything, she can't make it up."

Kaplan said Durand had a long-distance and strong friendship with Grimm and didn't intend to violate campaign finance laws when she organized and reimbursed donations beyond campaign-finance limits.

He said she was "not a sophisticated person" and had not been involved in campaign finance, and that any errors she made were because "she was trying to help someone she cared about."

The investigation into campaign finance is still ongoing.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/25/politi...imm/index.html

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Federal prosecutors plan to file charges against Rep. Grimm, attorney says

Published April 25, 2014 FoxNews.com

Jan 2, 2013: Representative Michael Grimm (R-NY) talks to the media. (Reuters)

New York Republican Rep. Michael Grimm's attorney confirmed late Friday that federal prosecutors plan to file criminal charges against the congressman.
The decision follows a two-year FBI investigation into various aspects of Grimm's business and campaign history.

"We are disappointed by the government's decision, but hardly surprised," said the statement from Grimm's attorney, William McGinley. "From the beginning, the government has pursued a politically driven vendetta against Congressman Grimm and not an independent search for the truth."

The statement said Grimm "asserts his innocence of any wrongdoing" and "will be vindicated."

"Until then, he will continue to serve his constituents with the same dedication and tenacity that has characterized his lifetime of public service as a Member of Congress, Marine Corps combat veteran, and decorated FBI Special Agent," the statement said.

The House Ethics Committee announced in November that Grimm was under investigation for possible campaign finance violations. That committee said it would defer its inquiry because of a separate Department of Justice investigation.

A spokesman for the U.S. attorney in Brooklyn said he could not confirm, deny or comment on the case.

Grimm made headlines in January after confronting a New York City cable news station reporter who tried to question him about a long-running FBI investigation into campaign finance on a balcony in the Capitol.

After reporter Michael Scotto finished his report, Grimm stormed back, leaned into him and said, "Let me be clear to you. If you ever do that to me again, I'll throw you off this (expletive) balcony."

Scotto, who was asking about fundraising during Grimm's first campaign, protested, saying he was asking "a valid question."

During that race, Grimm has acknowledged receiving $250,000 to $300,000 in contributions from followers of an Israeli rabbi, Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto. Some members of Pinto's congregation subsequently said they made tens of thousands of dollars in illegal contributions, including gifts passed through straw donors.

Grimm has denied knowledge of any improprieties, and the FBI hasn't accused him of any wrongdoing. The Israeli businessman who had served as Grimm's liaison to Pinto's followers, Ofer Biton, pleaded guilty in August to an immigration fraud charge.

Three days after that guilty plea, the FBI filed a sealed criminal complaint accusing a Houston woman who had been romantically involved with Grimm of using straw donors to make illegal campaign contributions.

In that case, made public this month, the woman was accused of funneling at least $10,000 to Grimm's campaign by passing them through friends who agreed to have the donations listed under their names.

A spokesman in Grimm's Washington office, Nick Iacono, did not immediately return emails or a telephone message seeking comment Friday.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014...attorney-says/

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