Trump grants forgiveness to ex-Republican politician Michael Grimm, previously convicted for tax fraud violations.
President Donald Trump has granted a full pardon to Michael Grimm, the former U.S. Representative from New York, who was convicted of tax fraud and related charges in 2014.
Grimm, a Republican from Staten Island and part of Brooklyn, was accused of underreporting wages and revenue from his Manhattan restaurant and filing false tax documents. The charges also included employing unauthorized workers, obstructing tax collection, and cheating the state of New York on workers' compensation insurance premiums, among other allegations.
The Justice Department, in its arguments during the trial, highlighted Grimm's threats against a reporter and his court statements about the impact of his sentencing. They criticized his attempt to downplay his criminal actions, arguing that it reflected an individual who had not accepted responsibility for his crimes.
Despite his indictment, Grimm won re-election in 2014. He pleaded guilty a month later to one count of tax fraud and resigned from Congress in January 2015. He served eight months in prison and, following his release in May 2016, remained barred from any government employment or contracts.
Grimm, a former Marine and FBI agent, had been under investigation for alleged campaign finance violations in his 2010 race. In 2018, he attempted a political comeback but lost the Republican primary for his old district to incumbent Rep. Dan Donovan. Donovan, in turn, lost the general election to Democrat Max Rose.
In September 2024, Grimm was left paralyzed from the chest down after a horse riding accident during a polo tournament.
The pardon was part of a larger clemency spree by Trump, which saw the release of other high-profile figures, such as reality TV stars and former Connecticut Governor John Rowland. The specific reasons for Trump's decision to pardon Grimm remain unclear.
Grimm, the ex-Representative from New York, was accused of various crimes, including tax fraud, employing unauthorized workers, and obstructing tax collection. His convictions stemmed from underreporting wages and revenue from his Manhattan restaurant, as well as cheating New York on workers' compensation insurance premiums.
The Justice Department heavily criticized Grimm during his trial, citing his threats against a reporter and his attempts to downplay his criminal actions. They argued that his behavior indicated a lack of responsibility for his crimes.
Grimm's political career was fraught with controversy. Despite his indictment, he won re-election in 2014 but later pleaded guilty to one count of tax fraud and resigned from Congress. He also faced allegations of campaign finance violations in his 2010 race.
In a surprising turn of events, President Trump granted a full pardon to Grimm in September 2024, as part of a wider clemency spree. The reasons behind this decision remain unclear.
