Scotto was asking the congressman about a federal investigation into his fundraising practices in 2010 when Grimm went off.
"What?" Scotto responded. "I just wanted to ask you..."
Grimm: "Let me be clear to you, you ever do that to me again I'll throw you off this f-----g balcony."
Scotto: "Why? I just wanted to ask you..."
Grimm: "If you ever do that to me again..."
Scotto: "Why? Why? It’s a valid question."
Grimm: "No, no, you're not man enough, you're not man enough. I'll break you in half. Like a boy."
The confrontation happened in the Capitol Rotunda.
"I was extremely annoyed because I was doing NY1 a favor by rushing to do their interview first in lieu of several other requests. The reporter knew that I was in a hurry and was only there to comment on the State of the Union, but insisted on taking a disrespectful and cheap shot at the end of the interview, because I did not have time to speak off-topic. I verbally took the reporter to task and told him off, because I expect a certain level of professionalism and respect, especially when I go out of my way to do that reporter a favor. I doubt that I am the first Member of Congress to tell off a reporter, and I am sure I won’t be the last."
Grimm, 43, is the only Republican congressman representing New York City.
NY1 Political Director Bob Hardt also had something to say. "It is extremely disturbing when anyone threatens one of our reporters -- let alone a U.S. Congressman," Hardt said in a statement.
"The NY1 family is certainly alarmed and disappointed by the behavior of Representative Grimm and demands a full apology from him," he continued. "This behavior is unacceptable."
