Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich doesn’t think embattled New York Rep. Michael Grimm, who hit with a 20-count indictment on federal charges Monday, should step down from Congress.
Gingrich, a co-host of CNN’s Crossfire, simply tweeted the word “No” on Monday when the show asked viewers whether Grimm should resign.
No RT @Crossfire: Do you think Rep. Michael Grimm should step down from office? Reply w/ Yes or No using #Crossfire pic.twitter.com/BUnWL5y47O
— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) April 28, 2014
Asked by The Daily Caller to elaborate, Gingrich said in an email: “Innocent until proven guilty is a pretty deep American tradition.”
Grimm, a former FBI agent, was indicted Monday in a New York Federal District Court. He stands accused of tax fraud for allegedly under-reporting wages and profits while running a New York restaurant before his election to Congress.
The Republican said he will not resign and that he still has plans to run for re-election.