By Hunter Walker 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 Hunter Walker and Colin Campbell 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 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 Colin Campbell 9/24/12 12:26pm

Grimm-Gate

GrimmCampaignDamage

Privately, Democrats Extremely Suspicious of Grimm’s Vandalism Story

On Sunday, GOP Congressman Michael Grimm announced that pieces of cement were thrown through the window of his campaign headquarters on Staten Island. In addition to the smashed windows, Mr. Grimm and his campaign claimed hard drives in the office were erased and described the crime as ”politically motivated” in a series of statements and an emergency press conference.

The campaign of Mr. Grimm’s Democratic opponent Mark Murphy flatly condemned the act, but multiple Democratic insiders who have been following the race expressed skepticism of Mr. Grimm’s story when offered the chance to give their private thoughts on the politically sensitive topic. For their part, Republicans we reached out to did not immediately leap at the opportunity to comment.

“The whole thing seems bizarre to a lot people,” one Democrat wrote to Politicker. “Why would someone sneak into a campaign HQ and erase stuff while tipping them off you were there. It doesn’t make any sense.” 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 Colin Campbell 9/21/12 4:19pm

Pissed Off

romne cover

Congressman Calls Obama Out for Defending Muhammad, But Not Jesus

That controversial “Piss Christ” artwork is coming to New York City again, and GOP Congressman Michael Grimm isn’t happy about it. The work in question is a photo of a crucifix placed in the urine of artist Andres Serrano and has long been a magnet for the ire of conservative pols. Accordingly, Mr. Grimm released a four paragraph statement this afternoon where he accused the Obama administration of hypocrisy due for making efforts to quell the deadly Islamic protests abroad by criticizing a video that mocked Muhammad while remaining silent on Mr. Serrano’s photo.

“The Obama administration’s hypocrisy and utter lack of respect for the religious beliefs of Americans has reached an all-time high,” Mr. Grimm explained. “Perhaps they’ve forgotten the controversy that surrounded this deplorable piece depicting a crucifix submerged in the artist’s urine.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 9/17/12 9:15am

teevee

(Photo: YouTube)

Both Sides Now Airing Ads in Staten Island Congressional Race [Video]

On Friday morning, Mark Murphy, the Democratic challenger to Rep. Michael Grimm, unleashed his first television ad aiming to draw attention to some of the controversies surrounding the incumbent. “Murphy TV Ad Focuses on Grimm’s Character Flaws” the subject line of Mr. Murphy’s press release read, for example. “With characters like these around him, we can’t help but wonder about Michael Grimm’s character,” the ad itself declared after ticking off a list of “questionable characters.”

While Mr. Grimm’s campaign lashed out at Mr. Murphy at the time, it seems they were already readying a positive ad to boost his character as well. To wit, “Michael Grimm: Our Voice in Washington” quietly popped up on Mr. Grimm’s YouTube channel on Friday, and this morning, his spokeswoman confirmed the ad has been airing in Staten Island and Brooklyn since last week. Read More

By Colin Campbell 9/12/12 5:35pm

I'm on a boat!

(Photo: Getty)

Rudy Giuliani Is Hyped About His Boat

Two days ago, Congressman Michael Grimm wrote a letter to the New York City Department of Transportation urging them to name one of their three new Staten Island Ferry boats after former Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Mr. Giuliani is quite excited about the proposal.

At a press conference this afternoon condemning anti-gay attacks against Councilman Eric Ulrich in his GOP primary for a Queens State Senate seat, Mr. Giuliani and the four Republican Council members present remained fairly subdued and quiet. However, when Politicker asked Mr. Giuliani about the potential plan for Staten Islanders to take the Rudolph W. Giuliani in their daily commutes, the atmosphere became jubilant. Read More

By Colin Campbell 9/10/12 6:56pm

u.s.s. rudy

(photo: siferry.com)

You Could Take a Ride on Rudy Giuliani

There are three new vessels being commissioned for the Staten Island Ferry fleet, and Staten Island Congressman Michael Grimm would very much like one of the boats to be named after former Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Thus, on the eve of the September 11th attacks, he wrote a letter to the New York City Department of Transportation urging this outcome. Read More