Republican Congressman Michael Grimm and Democratic challenger Domenic Recchia engaged in a combative debate Friday in their race to represent Staten Island and part of Brooklyn.
Recchia repeatedly brought up the federal indictment pending against Grimm, to which Grimm responded that he is entitled to his day in court. The debate, in Manhattan, will air Sunday on WABC.
The race to represent New York's 11th Congressional District is one of the most competitive in the country.
Recchia, 55, has the support of the national Democratic Party, which has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in his campaign. Grimm, 44, has sought to link Recchia with Mayor de Blasio and President Obama, two Democrats unpopular on Republican-leaning Staten Island.
The congressman, a former Marine and FBI agent, is accused in the indictment of evading taxes by allegedly hiding more than $1 million in sales and wages, while running a small Manhattan restaurant. He has pleaded not guilty to 20 counts and has a December court date.
Grimm, who is seeking his third term, also was captured on camera in January threatening to throw a TV reporter off a balcony after the journalist asked Grimm about an FBI probe into his campaign finances.
Pressed about the confrontation after a debate earlier this month, Grimm said that he apologized to the reporter and that he made a mistake after a stressful day in Congress.
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During that debate in Brooklyn, Recchia also attacked Grimm with the criminal accusations, calling the congressman "a liar" who failed to tell the truth to federal officials.
