House Speaker Paul Ryan said Wednesday he backs incumbent Rep. Dan Donovan, R-N.Y., over former Rep. Michael Grimm, who is challenging Donovan in the Republican primary for his old seat.
“I support Dan Donovan, plain and simple,” Ryan told reporters during a press conference.
Grimm announced his candidacy for his old congressional seat last month. The former congressman represented New York’s 11th District, which includes Staten Island and part of Brooklyn, from 2013 to 2014.
Ryan didn’t explain his support for Donovan, but Grimm lost his seat after being charged with federal tax evasion, fraud and perjury. He was sent to prison in September 2015 and was released in May 2016.
Donovan won the special election to replace Grimm in May 2015 after Grimm resigned.
