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NY Rep. to resign after admitting to tax evasion

<p>Around this time last year, Rep. Michael Grimm of New York was asked about his campaign finances. He responded poorly.</p><p>Grimm told <a href="http://brooklyn.ny1.com/content/news/220873/grimm-pleads-guilty-to-federal-tax-evasion-charge/" target="_blank">the reporter</a>, <strong>"If you ever do that to me again, I'll throw you off this f***ing balcony."</strong></p><p>Fast forward to now, and Grimm's legal woes have finally caught up with him. <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/michael-grimm-reportedly-decided-resign-congress-article-1.2060152" target="_blank">The New York Daily News</a> reports the congressman will step down after pleading guilty to one count of tax evasion. </p><p>The report claims Grimm's decision comes after a talk with House Speaker John Boehner on Monday, and that the official announcement will be made Tuesday or Wednesday. When he announced his guilty plea last week, Grimm initially said he intended to keep his seat.</p><p>Grimm <a href="http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/12/23/rep-michael-grimm-expected-to-plead-guilty-to-federal-tax-evasion-charge/" target="_blank">told reporters</a>, <strong>"As long as I'm able to serve, I'm going to serve. As of right now, I'm still in a capacity to serve, and that's exactly what I plan on doing."</strong></p><p>The congressman has been <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/calls-michael-grimm-resignation-mount-guilty-plea-tax/story?id=27790586" target="_blank">dogged by allegations</a> that he concealed over $1 million in profits from federal tax authorities while running a Manhattan restaurant prior to entering Congress.</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gE7OWtKwxc" target="_blank">Despite the charges</a>, Grimm coasted to victory in the November midterm elections over his Democratic opponent Domenic Recchia. Now that he's stepping down, there'll need to be a special election to fill his place.</p><p>Grimm's sentencing, which could come with jail time, is scheduled for June 8.</p><p><em>This video includes an image from Getty Images.</em></p>
<p>Around this time last year, Rep. Michael Grimm of New York was asked about his campaign finances. He responded poorly.</p><p>Grimm told <a href="http://brooklyn.ny1.com/content/news/220873/grimm-pleads-guilty-to-federal-tax-evasion-charge/" target="_blank">the reporter</a>, <strong>"If you ever do that to me again, I'll throw you off this f***ing balcony."</strong></p><p>Fast forward to now, and Grimm's legal woes have finally caught up with him. <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/michael-grimm-reportedly-decided-resign-congress-article-1.2060152" target="_blank">The New York Daily News</a> reports the congressman will step down after pleading guilty to one count of tax evasion. </p><p>The report claims Grimm's decision comes after a talk with House Speaker John Boehner on Monday, and that the official announcement will be made Tuesday or Wednesday. When he announced his guilty plea last week, Grimm initially said he intended to keep his seat.</p><p>Grimm <a href="http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/12/23/rep-michael-grimm-expected-to-plead-guilty-to-federal-tax-evasion-charge/" target="_blank">told reporters</a>, <strong>"As long as I'm able to serve, I'm going to serve. As of right now, I'm still in a capacity to serve, and that's exactly what I plan on doing."</strong></p><p>The congressman has been <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/calls-michael-grimm-resignation-mount-guilty-plea-tax/story?id=27790586" target="_blank">dogged by allegations</a> that he concealed over $1 million in profits from federal tax authorities while running a Manhattan restaurant prior to entering Congress.</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gE7OWtKwxc" target="_blank">Despite the charges</a>, Grimm coasted to victory in the November midterm elections over his Democratic opponent Domenic Recchia. Now that he's stepping down, there'll need to be a special election to fill his place.</p><p>Grimm's sentencing, which could come with jail time, is scheduled for June 8.</p><p><em>This video includes an image from Getty Images.</em></p>
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U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm's lawyer says the New York Republican "fully embraces and accepts his responsibility for his actions."

Grimm said in a statement late Monday that he will resign effective Jan. 5.

He pleaded guilty to tax evasion last week. At the time, he vowed to stay in Congress as long as he could. But he now says he cannot give the job his full attention anymore.

The new Congress is scheduled to open Jan. 6, and Grimm's presence would have been a distraction for Republicans who will control both the House and the Senate.

Grimm's lawyer, Stuart N. Kaplan, said Tuesday that Grimm "shows great humility in moving forward for himself, as well as his constituents, to resign."

Grimm's sentencing is scheduled for June 8.

Copyright 2014 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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