Former GOP Rep. Michael Grimm thanked President Donald Trump last night after the president pardoned the onetime lawmaker.
“I am grateful beyond words to President Trump for restoring my good name and giving me my life back,” Grimm said in a statement that was given to the Staten Island Advance/SILIve.com.
Trump gave a full pardon to Grimm on Wednesday.
The former congressman served Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn in the House from 2011 to 2015.
Grimm resigned from Congress after pleading to tax evasion charges connected to an Upper East Side restaurant Grimm had partially owned called Healthalicious. Grimm served seven months in prison.
“Ten years ago – after years of serving my country faithfully in the Marines, the FBI, and in Congress – the Obama Justice Department was weaponized against me,” Grimm said in his statement Wednesday.
He continued, “I believe President Trump, having battled his own baseless lawfare campaign, saw this for what it was: using the Justice Department to do what they couldn’t do with the ballot box.”
Grimm, who last year was paralyzed from the chest down after falling from a horse while playing polo, went on, “Thanks to President Trump, I can now focus on recovering fully from my accident, supporting my family, and serving the community that I love so dearly.”
He continued, “A heartfelt thank you to my family, friends and supporters whose prayers and well wishes have made my recovery possible. God bless you, and God bless our President!”
Assemblymember Michael Tannousis (R-East Shore), chairman of the borough GOP, said in a statement that “Congressman Grimm is a dedicated public servant who served us on the battlefield and in the halls of Congress. Today’s news is welcomed as he continues his recovery. May God continue to be with him.”
The Advance/SILive.com reported earlier this month that Grimm had been making “steady progress” from his injury and was appreciative of the support he had received during his recovery.
Grimm in January gave a video update of his condition, saying in part that “little by little, I’m getting better. As you can see, I’m now in a wheelchair. I’m working on my fingers, getting more dexterity in my fingers, and then getting my legs to move. But everything is moving in the right direction, and I can’t thank you enough.”
