Trump Grants Pardon to Ex-Congressman Michael Grimm

Washington, D.C. — President Donald Trump issued a full pardon on Wednesday to former Congressman Michael Grimm of New York, according to a White House official. Grimm, a Republican, is known for his time representing Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn from 2011 to 2015.

Grimm was convicted of tax fraud in November 2014, stemming from his ownership of a Manhattan restaurant called Healthalicious. Prosecutors charged him with underreporting wages and revenue and filing false tax documents. He pled guilty to aiding in the preparation of a false tax return and served seven months in prison, followed by a month of house arrest and 200 hours of community service.

In a statement, Trump also pardoned James and Marlene Kernan of Oriskany, New York. The Kernans pleaded guilty in 2009 to willfully employing a three-time convicted felon and were sentenced to probation.

Grimm’s legal troubles began when he was charged with tax evasion in April 2014, but he held onto his House seat for several months before ultimately resigning in January 2015. Additionally, he made headlines for threatening a reporter in an altercation captured on camera in January 2014.

In September 2024, Grimm sustained serious injuries after being thrown from a horse during a polo tournament. This pardon represents the latest in a series of clemency actions taken by Trump, often bypassing standard procedures typically handled by the Department of Justice.

The pardon highlights Trump’s continued focus on issues related to former allies and associates.