By Hunter Walker 9/25/12 5:52pm

Grimm-Gate

Michael Grimm (Photo: Facebook)

NYPD Says They’re Just Getting Started With Investigation of Michael Grimm’s Hard Drives

Over the weekend, cement bricks were thrown through the windows of Congressman Michael Grimm’s campaign headquarters on Staten Island in an attack Mr. Grimm initially said he believed the attack was “politically motivated” and that it also left computers in the office with mysteriously erased hard drives. Today, an eighth grader confessed to smashing the windows with a friend, leading Mr. Grimm to admit “it is possible that a volunteer could have inadvertently compromised the computer and failed to report it.”

However, in spite of a New York Times report published Monday that cited an unnamed “law enforcement official” as saying, “police experts had examined the campaign’s computer systems and concluded that nothing had been erased or tampered with,” a spokesman for the NYPD said the investigation into the situation with Mr. Grimm’s computers is just beginning. Read More

By Colin Campbell and Hunter Walker 9/25/12 3:53pm

Grimm-Gate

(Photo: Getty)

Michael Grimm ‘Relieved’ Attack on His Office Was ‘Not Politically Motivated’

Earlier today, the Associated Press reported an eighth grader confessed to an incident of vandalism where windows were smashed at the campaign headquarters of Staten Island Congressman Michael Grimm. Over the weekend, when the vandalism first occurred, Mr. Grimm claimed it was a  “politically-motivated” attack that also included hard drives being erased on computers in his office. He further condemned the attack as “an assault on democracy.” After the news broke that a child admitted he and a friend committed the crime, Mr. Grimm issued a calmer statement, declaring he was “very relieved to know this is not politically motivated” and said he assumed the broken windows were connected to a “consistent pattern” of his lawn signs being damaged and the computer problems at his office. He also slammed the media for what he described as “shameless spin” in the reporting on the situation.

“It is unfortunate that these young kids would commit such an act of vandalism, yet we are very relieved to know this is not politically motivated. At the time, when we saw three large window panes broken, following a consistent pattern of lawn sign thefts and after several locations with Grimm signs and posters were barraged with eggs, it was not hard to come to any other conclusion,” Mr. Grimm said. “In addition to that, the gentleman in charge of operating the main computer system, found the computer not functioning and a new operating system installed. Again, under the circumstances, it could very easily lead one to believe that this was all connected, which is why we contacted the NYPD.” Read More

By Colin Campbell and Hunter Walker 9/25/12 1:57pm

Grimm-Gate

A photo of the damage. (Source: Grimm campaign)

Exposed: 8th Grader Admits to Breaking Michael Grimm’s Window

Congressman Michael Grimm and his campaign made a big deal about an alleged break-in at his headquarters last weekend, calling the incident “politically motivated” and “an assault on democracy,” claiming hard drives in the office were erased and comparing the situation to the deadly shooting that left former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords critically wounded last year.

According to the Associated Press, the explanation for the smashes windows at Mr. Grimm’s office is actually something far more innocent.

“Police say a teenager has admitted vandalizing the campaign office of New York Congressman Michael Grimm,” the AP report said. “NYPD spokesman Paul Browne says the eighth grader told a school counselor that he and a friend had broken a window over the weekend at the office on Staten Island.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 9/23/12 3:20pm

Grimm-Gate

A photo distributed by Michael Grimm's spokeswoman showing damage at his office after the alleged vandalism and burglary.

Congressman’s Campaign Office Allegedly Vandalized and Burglarized on Staten Island

Republican Congressman Michael Grimm’s campaign office on Staten Island was allegedly vandalized and burglarized overnight. According to an email sent to reporters shortly after 2 p.m. by Mr. Grimm’s spokeswoman, Carol Danko, workers arrived at the office this morning to discover multiple windows that had apparently been broken.

“Overnight, cement blocks were thrown through the windows of his campaign HQ located at 2582 Hylan Blvd. between the New Dorp post office and the Hylan Shopping Plaza on Staten Island,” Ms. Danko wrote.

Politicker just spoke with Ms. Danko on the phone and she said Mr. Grimm is communicating with police and that he said, upon further investigation, the NYPD discovered computers inside the office had their hard drives erased. According to Ms. Danko, police believe the broken windows may have been a “cover up” to distract from the compromised computers. Read More

By Hunter Walker 8/24/12 9:25am

Law & Order

Times photographer Robert Stolarik and a police officer at an Occupy Wall Street protest last December. (Photo: YouTube)

NYPD Returns Press Credentials to Photographer After His Arrest

New York Times freelancer Robert Stolarik was arrested and allegedly beaten by the NYPD on August 4 while taking pictures for the paper in the Bronx. Yesterday, the police department gave Mr. Stolarik back his press credential, which was taken at the time of his arrest. The National Press Photographers Association, which has had its general counsel, Mickey Osterreicher, working with Times lawyers and negotiating with the NYPD on Mr. Stolarik’s behalf announced the return of his press pass in a blog post.

“We are very appreciative that the NYPD reconsidered their position with regard to the return of Robert’s credentials but still believe it is unfortunate that they were taken in the first place and we will work very diligently to see that the charges are dismissed,” Mr. Osterreicher said. Read More

By Hunter Walker 8/21/12 7:11pm

Law & Order

The logo of one of Tampa's many adult establishments. (Photo: PinkPonyTampa.com)

Tampa Police Bust 16 Would-Be Prostitutes in RNC Sting

With Republicans and sex workers flocking to next week’s Republican National Convention, police officers in Tampa conducted a two day undercover sting to bust strippers selling sexual favors at the city’s many adult entertainment venues. According to a press release issued by the Tampa police department, the strip club sting was launched “as a result of information that prostitutes may be coming into Tampa to work in adult establishments during the RNC.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 8/13/12 3:32pm

tragedies

A mourner crying at a service in Oak Creek Friday for the victims of the Sikh Temple shooting. (Photo: Getty)

Son Of Murdered Sikh Temple President Asks Why Obama And Romney Have Not Visited Victims

Last weekend, Michelle Obama made a surprise visit to a hospital in Aurora, Colorado to meet with victims of last month’s movie theater shooting there. Her husband, President Barack Obama, also met with those affected by the horrific shooting just two days after it occurred. However, neither the president or the First Lady has visited Oak Creek, Wisconsin where six people were killed at a Sikh Temple sixteen days after the incident in Aurora. Amardeep Kaleka, whose father was killed at Oak Creek, said he finds it “strange” his community hasn’t received more support from President Obama and Mitt Romney.

“Why wouldn’t they, at some point, make a stand. Make a stand for everybody out there who’s ever been robbed, or gunned down or has faced this hatred,” Mr. Kaleka said.

Mr. Kaleka’s father, Satwant Singh Kaleka, was president of the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin. According to Mr. Kaleka, his father was shot eight times and lost all of his fingernails while wrestling with the gunman. Mr. Kaleka said he and other family members of the victims haven’t received any communication from President Obama beyond a single call to a “random” member of the congregation. Read More

By Hunter Walker 8/06/12 7:32pm

The Fourth Estate

Times photographer Robert Stolarik and a police officer at an Occupy Wall Street protest last December. (Photo: YouTube)

Police And Paper Have Conflicting Stories After Photographer Allegedly Beaten And Arrested in The Bronx

According to the NYPD, New York Times photographer Robert Stolarik “violently resisted” being arrested Saturday night and “inadvertently struck” an officer after he got too close to police who were dealing with another suspect. Mr. Stolarik and Times attorney George Freeman dispute this account and claim he was kicked and beaten by the police after simply attempting to do his job. After a long winter that was filled with clashes between New York City’s press and police at Occupy Wall Street, Mr. Freeman told The Politicker this incident shows the NYPD has failed on its promise not to interfere with those who cover the news on city streets. As for, Mr. Stolarik, he just wants to get his cameras and press pass back. Read More

By Hunter Walker 7/30/12 4:52pm

Crate Gate

Mitt Romney petting a dog during a campaign stop in 2008. (Photo: Getty)

Mitt Romney’s Dog Debacle Debated in Oregon Court

The infamous incident where Mitt Romney put his dog in a crate tied to the roof his station wagon during a family road trip in 1983 made a surprise appearance in an Oregon courtroom last week. A defense attorney representing one of two men who was charged with animal abuse after they dragged a pitbull behind a car for several hundred feet after tying the dog to the outside of the vehicle and forgetting to let it back in before driving off invoked Mr. Romney’s story to argue everyone makes mistakes sometimes.

“Our presidential candidate tied up a dog and drove off with him for quite a while,” the lawyer, Lisa Pardini, said. Read More

By Hunter Walker 7/26/12 9:10am

Sports Page

Jerry Sandusky at a preliminary hearing in his trial for child sexual abuse. (Photo: Getty)

Major Figure in PA GOP Worked With Penn State Sex Offender’s Charity

An interesting article that appeared in yesterday’s print New York Post, but somehow hasn’t made its way online, details a major GOP donor’s ties to the Penn State sex scandal. The story, written by Carl Campanile, noted Lance Shaner, who gave the maximum donation of $2,500 to the Romney campaign and $100,000 to Mr. Romney’s super PAC Restore Our Future, served on the board of convicted child molester and retired Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky’s charity, Second Mile. Mr. Shaner also donated $155,550 to Republican Pennsylvania Tom Corbett’s gubernatorial campaign and the Pennsylvania Republican Party headquarters was named after him.  Read More