Bay Ridge

Grimm, Recchia to debate in tight NYC House race

October 17, 2014 Associated Press
Friday afternoon's debate between Grimm and former New York City Council member Domenic Recchia was scheduled to stream live online and air Sunday on WABC-TV.
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Rep. Michael Grimm, a Republican who represents Staten Island and part of Brooklyn, was to face his Democratic challenger in one of New York’s most hotly contested races in a televised debate.

Friday afternoon’s debate between Grimm and former New York City Council member Domenic Recchia was to stream live online and air Sunday on WABC-TV.

Recchia called Grimm a liar who failed to tell the truth to federal officials at an earlier debate in Brooklyn.

Grimm, a former Marine and FBI agent, is under federal indictment, accused of evading taxes by hiding more than $1 million in sales and wages while running a small Manhattan restaurant.

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He has pleaded not guilty to 20 counts and has a December court date.

The two-term congressman was captured on camera in January threatening to throw a TV reporter off a balcony after the journalist asked Grimm about an FBI probe into his campaign finances.

Pressed about the incident after the debate earlier this month, Grimm said that he apologized to the reporter and that he made a mistake after a stressful day in Congress.

The race is considered one of the most competitive in the country and an opportunity for Democrats to pick up a congressional seat.

Recchia, 55, has the support of the national Democratic Party, which has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in his campaign.

The 44-year-old Grimm has sought to link Recchia with Mayor Bill de Blasio and President Barack Obama, Democrats who are unpopular on Republican-leaning Staten Island.


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