Congressman Threatens Reporter: 'I'll Break You in Half. Like a Boy.'

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Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.) speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill on April 7, 2011.

Image: Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press

By Jason Abbruzzese2014-01-29 14:20:21 UTC

A routine interview between a television reporter and a congressman after Tuesday night's State of the Union speech in Washington D.C., turned ugly after the representative physically threatened the journalist for attempting to ask a question about alleged campaign fundraising violations.

Congressman Michael Grimm, a Republican representing Staten Island, had just finished watching President Barack Obama's speech and had granted an interview to Michael Scott of television news stations NY1. Scotto attempted to ask about a federal investigation into Grimm's 2010 campaign fundraising, including allegations that Grimm's ex-girlfriend made illegal donations through straw donors.

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"Let me be clear to you, you ever do that to me again I'll throw you off this f*cking balcony," Grimm told Scott on camera, after the interview had concluded.

"No, no, you're not man enough, you're not man enough. I'll break you in half. Like a boy," Grimm continued after a series of inaudible exchanges between the two. Video of the confrontation can be found on NY1, along with a full transcript.

Grimm, who previously served in the Marines and as an FBI agent, has refused to back down from his comments. He released a statement on Tuesday night, saying: "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."

Scotto told CNN that he had "never encountered anything like that."

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Topics: congressman, michael grimm, ny1, Politics, state of the union, Television, US & World