Boehner keeps it short on Grimm's legal troubles

WASHINGTON, April 29 (UPI) -- House Speaker John Boehner had no interest in dwelling on the legal problems plaguing New York Rep. Michael Grimm, who was arrested and indicted on 20 charges of fraud related to his Manhattan health-food restaurants Monday.

During his weekly press conference on Capitol Hill Monday, Boehner gave a curt assessment of the freshman Republican's decision to step down from his assignment to the House Committee on Financial Services.

"I think he made the right decision,” Boehner said. “I think all members should be held to the highest ethical standards."

Grimm surrendered to the FBI Monday morning ahead of the unsealing of the indictment from the U.S. Attorney. He is accused of concealing about $1 million in gross receipts from the restaurant chain, Healthalicious, and falsely reporting hundreds of thousands of dollars in wages to employees.

A former FBI agent himself, Grimm was charged with five counts each of mail fraud and wire fraud, three counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false and fraudulent tax returns, one count of conspiring to defraud the U.S., one count of impeding the IRS, a count of healthcare fraud, one count of obstructing and official proceeding and one count of employing unauthorized workers.

While those charges all relate to actions that precede Grimm taking office, Grimm also faces two counts of perjury for allegedly giving false testimony as a member of Congress when questioned under oath about his company's financial dealings.

Grimm has denied wrongdoing and has refused to step down from his seat.