Congressman Grimm Threatens Reporter After State of the Union Interview: ‘I Will Break You in Half’

Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY) accosted a reporter after President Obama’s State of the Union address, reportedly threatening to throw him off a balcony.

He confronted the reporter, NY1′s Michael Scotto, on camera, allegedly saying “I will break you in half.” The congressman accosted Scott after their brief interview on Grimm’s reaction to the president’s speech. Scotto had attempted to ask rep 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 Rep Grimm returned and verbally accosted the reporter.

Rep Grimm later released a statement: “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.”