Rep. Michael Grimm pleaded guilty to cheating on his taxes Tuesday. But the embattled congressman says he's not going to resign. NY1’s Michael Scotto filed the following report.
Nearly two months after he was safely re-elected to a third term, Rep. Michael Grimm finally decided to tell his constituents the truth.
“If you do something wrong, you can never fully get past it until you accept responsibility for it. And that's what I'm doing, taking full responsibility so I can close this chapter and move forward,” said Grimm.
Moments earlier, the embattled lawmaker appeared before a federal judge and pleaded guilty to a single count of tax fraud.
Earlier in the year, Grimm was slapped with a 20-count indictment related to an Upper East Side restaurant he owned prior to becoming a politician.
Grimm admitted to cheating the government out of taxes and paying his workers under the table.
When asked if he'll resign from office, Grimm shot back: “Absolutely not.”
The defiant lawmaker insisted not only is he still effective, but that the crime happened before he took office.
“Everything we're talking about happened before I was in Congress and for the past four years I have been a very effective, strong, member of Congress,” he said.
But Grimm did acknowledge in court documents Tuesday that he lied under oath during a deposition that took place in 2013, while he was in Congress.
That could become an issue as he tries to make the case for why he shouldn't be forced out.
Grimm said he's spoken with House leadership, though a source close to House Speaker John Boehner said Boehner was not one of those people.
There are no federal laws prohibiting a convicted felon from serving in Congress.
But when he returns in January, Grimm will likely face a House ethics investigation, an investigation that could lead to his being censured or expelled.
Grimm faces up to three years in prison and a maximum fine of $100,000.
Sentencing is set for June 8 and that day may very well determine whether Grimm can keep his promise to stay in office.