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Former U.S. Representative Michael Grimm of New York received a full presidential pardon from Donald Trump, the White House announced Wednesday. Grimm, a Republican and former FBI agent, had pleaded guilty to felony tax evasion in 2014 related to underreporting employee wages at his Manhattan health food restaurant, Healthalicious. He was sentenced to eight months in prison and served seven between 2015 and 2016.
Grimm represented Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn, first elected in 2010 and re-elected in 2012 and 2014, even while under federal indictment. He stepped down in January 2015 after entering his guilty plea, cutting short his third term in Congress.
The pardon adds to Trump’s record of issuing clemency to political allies and high-profile conservatives. Grimm, a former U.S. Marine, later joined conservative media outlet Newsmax as an on-air contributor. He did not immediately issue a public statement following the pardon.
In late 2024, Grimm suffered a life-changing injury when he was paralyzed from the chest down following a horse fall during a polo match.
Grimm's political journey—from federal agent to congressman, to convicted felon, and later conservative media figure—culminates in a presidential pardon, highlighting Trump's continued influence over Republican figures with loyalist ties. The pardon also revives public attention to Trump’s broader strategy of granting clemency to former officials and allies ensnared in legal battles.
Grimm’s case remains notable for its mix of political resilience, legal controversy, and media reinvention—drawing attention to issues of political loyalty, justice reform, and the use of presidential pardons. His ties to Trump and subsequent media career underscore ongoing overlaps between conservative politics and broadcast platforms.
