Common Cause urges ethics probe of Grimm

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A citizen’s lobby group is calling for an investigation into the conduct of Rep. Michael Grimm, R-NY, who was caught on camera threatening a reporter on Tuesday night.

According to a release from Common Cause, which is urging the probe, Grimm is already the subject of a federal investigation for possible campaign finance law violations.

The government watchdog group said it will ask the independent Office of Congressional Ethics to consider whether Grimm has violated a House rule requiring that members “behave at all times in a manner that shall reflect creditably on the House.”

“There are troubling signs that Congressman Grimm has violated both the letter and spirit of House rules,” said Karen Hobert Flynn, Common Cause’s senior vice president for strategy and programs. “We’re particularly concerned about allegations that he was involved in a scheme to use a network of straw donors to circumvent campaign finance laws.”

Federal law bars congressional campaigns from accepting cash donations of more than $100 and bans all donations from or campaign solicitations by foreigners without green cards.

Grimm apologized on Wednesday for his behavior during an on-camera encounter with an NY1 reporter following the State of the Union address Tuesday. Unhappy with questions about his campaign finances, Grimm cut the interview short, then threatened to throw the journalist off a balcony above the lobby of a House office building. “I’ll break you in half, like a boy,” the congressman said.