Staten Island Rep. Michael Grimm is running a champagne campaign.
Grimm has been using potential re-election funds to pay big bills at some of the poshest restaurants, wine bars and other venues around the country, his campaign records show.
In one case, the Republican, who is expected to face a challenge from Democratic Councilman Domenic Recchia, shelled out $1,170 on March 22 for a night at Central-Michel restaurant, one of Washington’s finest establishments for wining and dining.
Other places where he spent big include:
- Caesars Palace Resort in Las Vegas, where his bill totaled $1,099.
- He rang up a $6,527 bill in May for a fund-raiser that included tickets to a Taylor Swift concert that were resold to supporters at a higher price.
- He paid $2,730 for an event at Washington’s Charlie Palmer Steakhouse on June 28.
His campaign insisted that even smaller dinners with one or two people were related to raising campaign cash.
There is no suggestion any of the spending was illegal, but the amount of money involved has raised eyebrows.
Bill Mahoney, of the New York Public Interest Research Group, said, “It’s inappropriate to spend campaign money on oneself. There’s a difference between fund-raising and drinking with friends.’’
Mahoney criticized election laws as being so loose, a candidate can get away with virtually anything.
Some of Grimm’s other bills include $828 for five trips to the Sonoma restaurant and wine bar near the Capitol.
He also billed his campaign account $89.66 on July 19 for fine dining at DC’s Fiola restaurant.
Fiola has been recognized by Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast magazines as one of America’s best wine restaurants.
Grimm billed his campaign $219.54 on June 29 for meals at Chicago Cut Steakhouse in the Windy City, and $278.92 on April 18 for a stop at Del Frisco’s steakhouse in Manhattan.
Grimm stirred controversy last month when he patronized the upscale Owl’s Head wine bar in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.
He reportedly spent extended time in the bathroom with a gal pal.
Grimm, an ex-Marine and FBI agent, has denied that.
Although he says he doesn’t smoke, Grimm also took contributions from the cigar industry. He reported a $400 contribution on June 26 of “event supplies” from Cigar-PAC.
Grimm, through a spokeswoman, defended all the spending.
“The congressman doesn’t pick the location for his events. The fund-raiser host picks the spot,” said Grimm spokeswoman Carol Danko.
“If Grimm chose the restaurant, you’d know it, because it would probably be a steak place.”
Asked about the smaller restaurant bills that appear to be for one or two people, Danko insisted they’re “related to a fund-raiser.’’
Grimm’s fund-raising activities in a 2010 race for Congress are now being investigated by the US Justice Department.
A former Grimm fund-raiser, Israeli national Ofer Biton, pleaded guilty in August to visa fraud.
Grimm insisted he did nothing wrong. He spent more than $400,000 in legal fees related to the probe.