Rep. Alan Grayson Tuesday threatened to have a reporter from Politico arrested in Philadelphia, accusing him of assault as the reporter tried to question the Florida Democrat on domestic abuse allegations.
Grayson, 58, who is running for Senate, was approached by reporter Edward-Isaac Dovere as he was leaving an event sponsored by Politico at the Democratic National Convention,
according to the website's report.
Dovere sought to ask Grayson questions about allegations by his former wife that he had assaulted her dating as far back as 1994.
Grayson initially denied the accusations in Politico's story, based upon police documents the site obtained and published earlier Tuesday, before later providing comment through his lawyer.
According to a video of the exchange, Grayson refuses to talk to the reporter and appears to nudge him as he walks toward the elevator.
Dovere continued to follow Grayson — and the congressman became visibly angry. The footage then shows Grayson alleging that Dovere had assaulted him.
"You’re getting in my way, my friend," Grayson said. "You’re assaulting a member of Congress. You’re pushing me.
"Have this guy escorted out, please," he said.
While waiting for the elevator to arrive, Grayson asked the reporter: "Do you seriously think that this is the proper way to conduct an interview?"
The video then shows Dovere saying that Grayson attended an event sponsored by the website and that he was asking a question.
"My mistake. My mistake, okay?" Grayson said. "Now people know going forward that simply showing up to a public event means that you can come and hassle me."
"You’re a member of Congress," Dovere said, according to the video. "You’re a public official."
They then accused each of assaulting the other — and then Dovere said that the exchange had been captured by Politico videographers.
"Well that’s right and it’s a good thing," Grayson then said. "I’ll be handing it over to the Capitol police, my friend."
Later Tuesday, two liberal groups said that they were pulling their Grayson endorsements because of the Politico report.
"Unfortunately, this deeply disappointing revelation means progressives have no great options in the Florida race for Senate," Democracy for America and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee said in a written statement, according to the report.
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