STATEN ISLAND — Rep. Michael Grimm’s campaign headquarters were broken into Saturday night in what he is alleging was a “politically motivated” crime.
Grimm’s campaign said staffers arriving at work Sunday morning discovered the windows of their New Dorp office had been smashed with two chunks of concrete as well as smaller rocks. Once inside, the staffers discovered the office’s computer server had been wiped clean.
“Police believe [the smashed windows were] a cover-up for the burglary in which the suspect corrupted and erased the hard-drive of the campaign computer server, which contains confidential campaign files and polling data,” the campaign said in a statement.
Grimm denounced the act, which comes after a series of complaints about “Grimm for Congress” lawn signs and billboards disappearing.
“This is a disgraceful act of cowardice that is beneath the people I represent,” Grimm said in a statement. “Here in Staten Island, we are a family community, which is why despite our differences in opinions and political views, we have never seen an attack on a campaign escalate to this level.”
He added, “I do believe this is a politically motivated crime, and will continue to work closely with the NYPD in identifying and prosecuting those responsible.”
Grimm is facing a tough battle for re-election against Democratic challenger Mark Murphy, whose spokesman released a statement Sunday condemning the break-in.
"There is never any place for violence or vandalism in an electoral campaign or political debate," Murphy spokesman Nathan Smith said. "We hope that the police quickly apprehend whomever was responsible for this criminal act and prosecute all parties involved to the fullest extent of the law."
Grimm's campaign said that none of the volunteers’ personal information, which is kept in a separate location, was stolen or compromised during the attack.
