NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm got a lot of financial help in his first campaign thanks to an Israeli rabbi.
But that fruitful association is turning into a big headache for the Republican from New York’s Staten Island. There are now allegations of illegal donations and potentially embarrassing associations.
In mid-August, FBI agents arrested an Israeli businessman who had helped Grimm raise hundreds of thousands of dollars from the rabbi’s followers.
The FBI also has been investigating claims that other followers made illegal contributions to Grimm. FBI agents have recently been requesting records and interviewing people who were on the campaign staff.
Grimm, himself a former FBI agent, has acknowledged raising a lot of money from the rabbi’s supporters but denied any knowledge of improprieties. He says he followed fundraising rules.
