Earlier this month Diana Durand, a Republican operative who raised donations for New York City GOP Rep. Michael Grimm, was arrested by federal officials and charged with donating nearly $10,000 to Grimm’s campaign via an interstate “donor swapping” scheme. The stress of the federal investigation has apparently gotten to Grimm, who threatened to NY1 reporter Michael Scotto after Scotto asked him about the scandal in a post-State of the Union interview last night.

Grimm at first walked away from the camera, but then returned to threaten Scotto after he had wrapped the live interview. The camera and Scotto’s microphone were still on, however, and Grimm’s verbal assault was captured on video and has been transcribed by NY1:

“And just finally before we let you go, we haven’t had a chance to talk about some of the…” Scotto began before Grimm cut him off.

“I’m not speaking to you off-topic, this is only about the president,” said Grimm, before walking off camera.

“So Congressman Michael Grimm does not want to talk about some of the allegations concerning his campaign finances,” Scotto said before tossing back to the station. But as the camera continued to roll, Grimm walked back up to Scotto and began speaking to him in a low voice.

“What?” Scotto responded. “I just wanted to ask you…”

Grimm: “Let me be clear to you, you ever do that to me again I’ll throw you off this fucking balcony.”

Scotto: “Why? I just wanted to ask you…”

[[cross talk]]

Grimm: “If you ever do that to me again…”

Scotto: “Why? Why? It’s a valid question.”

[[cross talk]]

Grimm: “No, no, you’re not man enough, you’re not man enough. I’ll break you in half. Like a boy.”

Grimm later released a statement in which attempted to blame his bad behavior on the reporter:

“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,” reads the statement.

The political director for the news channel responded to the statement:

“It is extremely disturbing when anyone threatens one of our reporters – let alone a U.S. Congressman. The NY1 family is certainly alarmed and disappointed by the behavior of Representative Grimm and demands a full apology from him. This behavior is unacceptable,” reads the statement.

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