Republican ex-Rep. Michael Grimm reportedly will announce a bid to win back his old New York City district seat in Congress that he lost while going to prison for seven months on federal tax charges.
Citing anonymous sources, NY1 reported on Saturday that Grimm will announce his candidacy for his old Staten Island-Brooklyn seat at an Oct. 1 rally.
Grimm will be trying to oust GOP Rep. Dan Donovan, Staten Island’s former district attorney, who won a special election after Grimm went to prison in 2015, The New York Post reported, saying the move is opposed by state and local GOP officials. The Post cited the NY1 report.
Grimm was convicted in 2014 on charges that he falsified tax returns for a Manhattan restaurant he ran before taking office, the Post said, and he was released from federal prison 16 months ago.
The Post said Grimm has been "glad-handing" at events around his old district, posting photos on campaign-style Twitter account, and verbally blasting Donovan, including in an Aug. 31 interview with NY1.
"I don't think he's doing well at all as a Republican; I think he's doing a great job as a liberal Democrat — whether it's going against the president on the health care vote, whether it's going against the president on the sanctuary city vote, whether it's all his anti-Second Amendment bills," Grimmtold NY1. "These are all Democrat positions and he's been down the line on those positions, and that's a problem."
The borough's Republican elected officials have already signed a pledge to support Donovan, NY1 said.
“I can’t confirm anything, but I wouldn’t deny it,” former Staten Island Borough President Guy Molinari told The Post.
“We’re not really concerned about a challenge from a felon who was one of the most liberal members of Congress. Voters won’t be duped by him again,” Jessica Proud, a Donovan campaign spokeswoman, was quoted by the Post
NY1 and the Post said Grimm didn't respond to requests for comment.
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