Grimm's Campaign Manager Bill Cortese “...leaves the team...”
Are the wheels coming off Grimm’s attempts to win re-election in the face of the well-documented 20-count federal indictment that hangs over him --- and nothing but more bad atmospherics all around him as time goes by
Early this week, this is how the NY Daily News’ Washington reporter Dan Friedman opened his report on the Federal Case against Michael Grimm: “Rep. Michael Grimm calls the case against him a ‘political witch-hunt.’ If that’s true, it looks like a well-documented one. *** Evidence against Grimm includes texts and emails between Grimm and cooperating witnesses, three years of Grimm’s financial disclosure reports in Congress and tax returns by a former Grimm business partner linked to the Gambino crime family. *** ... Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Capozzolo said the government is turning over more than 7,000 documents and 8,000 emails supporting the charges against Grimm....” (See “Grimm's Texts, Emails, Financial Disclosures Among Prosecutors' Evidence” by Dan Friedman, 5/20/14, NY Daily News/ Mouth of the Potomac [http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dc/grimm-texts-emails-financial-disclosures-prosecutor-evidence-blog-entry-1.1799239]).
Grimm’s coverage in the Daily News and elsewhere didn’t get any better as the week progressed.
A day after that, the Daily News reported that, for some unexplained reason, Congressman Michael Grimm maintained some aspects of his under-cover alter-ego long after he had been elected to and had been serving in Congress ( See “Rep. Michael Grimm kept cell phone registered to FBI alter ego 'Mikey Suits' after joining Congress...” By John Marzulli & Dan Friedman, 5/21/14, NY Daily News [http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/rep-grimm-fbi-alter-ego-joining-congress-article-1.1801]). According to the News report, “Federal documents show Grimm kept a cell phone registered to ‘Michael Garibaldi of Centurian Consulting’ as recently as 2012, when prosecutors sought court order to track his calls....” So far, neither Grimm, his spokesman or his lawyer have responded to questions about why he used the alias more than six years after leaving the FBI — and for at least two years after entering the U.S. House in January 2011. That story had enough legs to continue into the next day, and none of the coverage of the story indicated that anybody has articulated or even suggested a rational or legitimate reason for Grimm to have maintained the active cell phone account of his undercover persona, “Mikey Suits Garibaldi,” after ceasing his undercover assignment many, many years ago, leaving the FBI and beginning his career as a U.S. Congressman (See also “Representative Michael Grimm Just Couldn’t Let Mikey Suits Go” by Caroline Bankoff, 5/22/14, New York Magazine/ Intelligencer [http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/05/grimm-couldnt-let-mikey-suits-go.html]).
Then anybody who wanted to see what an evasive congressman looks like on TV didn’t need to go any further than the video of a “newscaster” named Charlie LeDuff trying to pin down Congressman Grimm for an interview, or at least a comment or two (See “LeDuff: Six degrees of Representative Michael Grimm” by Charlie LeDuff, 5/22/14, My Fox Detroit/ The Americans [http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/25587903/leduff-six-degrees-of-repre-michael-grimm] [with video link]). Whether or not this stuff goes viral, it certainly looks bad, bad, bad for Grimm’s campaign going forward.
And earlier today (Friday), there was one of the first indications that the wheels might be coming off of the Grimm campaign completely. The Staten Island Advance reported that “GOP Rep. Michael Grimm's campaign manager has left the team. *** Guy Molinari, a top advisor to Grimm, on Friday night said that Bill Cortese left the campaign "a few days ago...." (See “GOP Rep. Michael Grimm loses campaign manager” by Tom Wrobleski, 5/23/14, SI Advance/ silive.com [http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2014/05/gop_rep_michael_grimm_loses_ca.html#incart_m-rpt-1]). In response to this news, Guy Molinari is reported to have said that the departure of Cortese after a "couple of months" on the team was not a sign of a campaign in trouble.
On top of all that, the same Wrobleski article in the Advance reported that “The news [about the departure of Grimm’s campaign manager] came the same day as an announcement that the House Ethics Committee had formed an investigative subcommittee to probe Grimm the wake of his 20-count indictment on federal tax evasion and other charges. Friday evening the TV news reported that the U.S. Justice Department asked the Congress to hold any internal investigation of Congressman Grimm in abeyance until after the Justice Department’s prosecution of the Brooklyn and Staten Island Congressman has been completed; and the congressional leadership readily announced that it will hold it up pending completion of the prosecution.
Even if the wheels haven’t come off the Grimm campaign completely yet, at this moment they are very wobbly, indeed.
22 comments:
"...NOT A SIGN OF A CAMPAIGN IN TROUBLE..." - Guy Molinari
HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!
GOOD ONE, GUY!
Please watch this. Gale linked to it above. It is very telling and funny to boot.
http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/25587903/leduff-six-degrees-of-repre-michael-grimm
Breaking traffic laws, illegally flashing badges (Mark Alvarez), illegally tinted front windows,
and
RUNNING AWAY FROM REPORTERS LIKE A LITTLE GIRL.
You gotta love karma.
All in the video. LMAO.
Grimm is a little boy with a tie on. Justice department gonna break him in half. Our maybe Recchia will.
Grimm will win, you'll see
At some point the media will focus on Recchia. Grimm will surge
UPDATE: THE "RE-ELECTION OF GRIMM AS A BARGAINING CHIP" EDITION
A long-time Brooklyn wag opined recently that the congressman must think that his re-election to congress will give him a bargaining chip for some kind of deal.
Several Republican activists think that there is some real stinkin' thinkin' goin' on with Grimm and his supporters. The GOP base, both in Brooklyn and in Staten Island, needs lots more than the possibility of some deal for Grimm's stepping down after the election to come out and vote for him in numbers big enough for him to win.
Democrats are just beginning to smell Grimm's blood in the water. The feeding frenzy hasn't even begun yet.
Will Mark Alvarez be in the same cell block as his tough guy boss?
UPDATE [& BACKFILL BY THE DAILY NEWS]: “THE BUCK STOPS HERE FOR GRIMM’S CAMPAIGN MANAGER” — OR — “THE ‘NOW, WHAT WOULD YOU PAY ?’ ” EDITION
DAILY NEWS SAYS, “... BILL CORTESE – THE [GRIMM] CAMPAIGN’S ONLY FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE – MADE HIS EXIT AFTER DONORS SNAPPED THEIR WALLETS SHUT [ON GRIMM]...” AND “HE IS NOW SEEN AS AN UNDERDOG...”
According to reporting by the Daily News’ Washington reporter and columnist, Dan Friedman, “...[A] person familiar with [Grimm's] campaign said the exit Thursday of [Grimm Campaign Manager Bill] Cortese... while amicable, came solely because Grimm could no longer afford Cortese’s $5,500 per month salary. *** Grimm, with less than half the budget he planned on, has to run a stripped-down campaign....” ( See “Rep. Michael Grimm’s campaign manager quit after indictment stopped donations... ” by Dan Friedman, 5/24/14, NY Daily News [http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/grimm-campaign-manager-quit-indictment-stopped-donations-source-article-1.1804739]).
Things have even gotten so bad that, according to Dan Friedman’s late Saturday night post, “[Grimm] is now seen as an underdog against Democratic challenger Domenic Recchia.
When is Marty Golden going to do something about the Michael Grimm problem?
Grimms problem is Marty Golden who thinks he can be a Congressman
UPDATE & BACKFILL: “THE CONGRESSMAN’S ‘OFFICIAL’ WEB PAGE” EDITION
For those who are keeping track of such things, apparently neither Congressman Grimm nor any of his staff have done anything significant or substantial to update his “Official” web site in over a month ( See “U.S. Congressman Michael Grimm – Representing the 11th Congressional District of New York” [http://grimm.house.gov/]). That site includes many subcategories, such as: “About Me” [http://grimm.house.gov/about-me]; “Contact Me” [https://grimm.house.gov/contact-me]; “Serving You” [https://grimm.house.gov/serving-you]; “Media Center [http://grimm.house.gov/media-center] (Including ‘Press Releases’ [http://grimm.house.gov/press-releases])”; “Legislative Work” [http://grimm.house.gov/legislative-work]; “Our District” [http://grimm.house.gov/our-district]; and “Resources” [ http://grimm.house.gov/resources] (Including ‘Sandy Relief’ [http://grimm.house.gov/issue/superstorm-sandy].‘Military Personnel’ [http://grimm.house.gov/resources/military-personnel] and ‘Veterans’[http://grimm.house.gov/resources/veterans])”; in addition to many others). To the routine observer, it is rather obvious that none of the major bookmarks or subcategories on the Grimm site has had any updating or editorial work done since some time in mid-April.
So, judging by what is shown on Congressman Grimm’s “Official” web site as of 5:00 PM, May 26, 2014, he hasn’t done anything for the citizens of his district since before he had been indicted about one month ago.
I think Guy Molinari can put this together. Rechia wont fly in Staten Island
What is the "this" that Guy Molinari can put together ? -- Is it the so-called "simplified" Grimm campaign ? Is it a series of deals with Republicans that are disaffected by/with Grimm ? A Pythonesque -- "Something Completely Different" ? All of that ? A little of this and a little of that ?
YOU TELL ME !!!
For starters there is an upstart assembly candidate that is running against the wishes of the Grimm faction. Joe Tirone's candidacy is upsetting any potential deals made to go easy on Grimm.
What I was asking about involved any possible "deals" (Grimm-Molinari need to make quite a few) with disaffected Republicans....
Deal time to help Grimm is over. Now it's time for other republicans to do what they gotta do.
What's Golden gotta do with his Grimm problem? And what's Kassar gotta do about Liam McCabe so he doesn't become part of the same problem?
Karma - Karma - Karma
UPDATE: “THE GRIMM VIEW – ‘VILIFIED FROM DAY ONE ... THE PRESS TRIED TO GET RID OF THIS GUY [GRIMM] FROM THE VERY BEGINNING’” EDITION
POLITICO REPORT OF INTERVIEW SHOWS A DELUSIONAL CONGRESSMAN GRIMM, COMPLETELY OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY — YET UNABLE TO SAY THAT HE’S NOT GUILTY
WHEN ASKED IF HE IS GUILTY OF THE CHARGES, GRIMM’S RESPONSE WAS — A LONG PAUSE — AND THEN THIS: “... IT DEPENDS...”
The gist of today’s Politico posting about Congressman Michael Grimm comes down to this: “Though he called the 20-count federal indictment a ‘serious’ matter worthy of media coverage, Grimm painted himself as the victim of a sensational, liberal press corps....” and Asked if he is innocent of the criminal charges, Grimm paused for four seconds, then chuckled softly. *** “You know, uh. It depends on what you’re asking me of,” he said....” ( See “Exclusive: Defiant Michael Grimm lashes out at media” by Alex Isenstadt, 5/27/14, Politico [http://www.politico.com/story/2014/05/michael-grimm-lashes-out-at-media-107145.html]).
Also, according to Isenstadt’s article, “Grimm appears increasingly isolated.”
Of particular interest to Republican followers of the Brooklyn-Staten Island Congressman, the post in Politico confirmed that The National Republican Congressional Committee has removed Grimm from fund raising events; House Speaker John Boehner, the top Republican office holder in the federal government, has declined to endorse Grimm’s re-election effort; and it also made note of the fact that Grimm’s campaign manager, Bill Cortese, left the Grimm team last week.
A Staten Island Advance article by Tom Wrobleski about Grimm’s comments to Politico showed that Grimm’s delusion of support throughout his district borders on the psychotic. — “When asked by the Advance to comment on the Politico article, Grimm said, "As my constituents know firsthand, I'm dedicated to fighting for them every day just as I have since day one." *** He said, "My meetings throughout the district yesterday clearly demonstrated the single most important factor relevant to my campaign - that my constituents know I have their backs and that I will go to the mat for them each and every time. I've been overwhelmed by the constant outpouring of support from the hardworking people I'm proud to represent." *** Grimm added, "Whether it's the Great Kills... Midland Beach, or the Staten Island veteran who my office helped ... the support is widespread and stronger than ever...." (See “Report: GOP Rep. Michael Grimm says he's been vilified by the media; may not air campaign ads” by Tom Wrobleski, 5/28/14, Staten Island Advance/ silive.com [http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2014/05/report_gop_rep_michael_grimm_s.html]).
UPDATE: THE “UH-OH ! OMG ! — IS MIKE GRIMM’S “AUDACIOUS MOVE” BEING PRAISED BY RACHEL MADDOW ?” EDITION
MADDOW SHOW SAYS KEY GOP OPERATIVES SAID GRIMM ACTUALLY “PHOTO-BOMBED” GOP HOUSE LEADERSHIP WHEN HE CRASHED GOP PRESSER ABOUT ADMINISTRATION’S V.A. SCANDAL
Is this “The World According to MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow”? — “...If [Congressman Grimm] really did show up uninvited, working his way into the front row [of a Congressional GOP leadership photo op] so he’d be in all the photos, that was a pretty audacious move.” (See “Grimm accused of crashing his own allies’ party” by Steve Benen, 5/30/14, MSNBC/ Rachel Maddow Show/ The Maddow Blog [http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/grimm-accused-crashing-his-own-allies]).
The Maddow Show writers presented the issue like this: “It seemed like an odd choice for the Republican leadership. On an important national issue, the party welcomed a congressman recently indicted on 20 federal criminal counts, including impeding the IRS, conspiracy to defraud the United States, perjury, filing false tax returns, mail fraud, wire fraud, and health care fraud?”
Then they sort of answered their own question in the negative:
“As it turns out, no, the party didn’t welcome him at all. *** Whatever his failings, embattled Rep. Michael Grimm isn’t bashful. *** The Staten Island Republican crashed a press conference held by House GOP leaders Thursday, according to House aides, and emerged touting his proximity to party leaders who’ve steered clear of him since his indictment last month. *** Grimm spokesman Nick Iacono said the congressman, a Marine Corps veteran, ‘was welcomed to attend’ the news conference where House Republicans urged the Senate to take up a bill making it easier to fire officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs. *** Oddly enough, though Grimm’s office claims Republicans ‘welcomed’ the scandal-plagued congressman, that’s not quite how party officials see it. In fact, the New York Daily News talked to one staffer who explicitly said, Grimm ‘was not invited.’ ”
UPDATE: THE “CONGRESSMAN GRIMM WEIGHS-IN [SORT OF] ON CONTROVERSIAL RELEASE OF U.S. ARMY SERGEANT BOWE BERGDAHL” EDITION
It seems that the only changes to Congressman Grimm’s “Official” Web Page are his postings of Facebook entries.
The following is worthy of note:
“Rep. Michael Grimm (From Find Me on Facebook [http://grimm.house.gov/])
16 hrs [Ago 11:18 AM 6/1/14]
'Thrilled to learn that Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl will be coming home to the U.S. after being held prisoner in Afghanistan for the past 5 years. God bless him and his family for the incredible burden and sacrifice they have endured for our nation. Welcome home Sgt. Bergdahl, your country honors and salutes you!'”
Maybe, Grimm hasn’t heard the whole story about Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl and how he might have fallen into the hands of the Taliban.
One military fraud (Grimm) saluting another (Bergdahl).
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