Grimm Prospects for SI

Ex-con ex-Rep. Michael Grimm is looking like a serious threat to win the GOP nomination for his old job — which would be utter lunacy, and not just because it risks handing the Staten Island seat to a Democrat. Grimm, who once threatened to toss a TV reporter off a Capitol balcony and did eight months in federal prison for tax evasion, is charismatic — but also a chameleon.

After sailing into Congress in 2010 on the Tea Party wave, he turned moderate in office before having to quit after being convicted. He now talks tough on illegal immigration — but his tax evasion centered on $1 million in off-the-books income involving undocumented workers.

When he was indicted in 2014, Grimm proclaimed his innocence, won re-election — then, with the ink certifying his win barely dry, pleaded guilty.

As part of his plea, he stipulated to will- fully making false tax filings, understating business income and lying under oath to conceal his fraud and deceptions.

Recently, the city Board of Elections referred Grimm’s campaign to federal and state prosecutors for dirty tricks against Rep. Dan Donovan — two serious possible crimes: filing a false instrument and conspiring to prevent an election.

After Eric Schneiderman’s fall, we observed that “something about New York politics seems to attract sociopaths.” Grimm shows it’s a bipartisan problem.

Donovan was an excellent district attorney whose felony-conviction record was second to none. In two terms, he has fought against cuts in anti-terror funding for New York and opposed the Iran nuclear deal that President Trump scuttled last week.

New York needs lawmakers, not lawbreakers, in Congress.