WASHINGTON (AP) — An independent advisory office has recommended that the House Ethics Committee investigate charges that a New York congressman threatened to harm a television reporter, but the bipartisan House panel has deferred action, according to documents released Wednesday.

The incident in question involved Rep. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y. Grimm, a second-term lawmaker who represents Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn, was indicted in April on separate federal tax evasion charges to which he has pleaded not guilty.