Former Staten Island Rep. Michael Grimm is paralyzed after a horseback riding accident

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Former Republican Michael Grimm is paralyzed due to injuries he sustained in a horseback riding accident in September, Advance/SILive.com has learned.

Former South Shore City Councilman Vincent Ignizio, who now serves as deputy executive director of the New York City Board of Elections, called for “prayers and a donation” for Grimm on Facebook.

He revealed that due to the accident, Grimm is paralyzed and unable to walk.

Ignizio posted a link to the “Help Michael Grimm Walk Again” GoFundMe page, which had already raised $15,146 as of 10:23 a.m. Sunday. The goal is $2.5 million.

Ignizio’s post explained that Grimm “needs help covering the significant costs that insurance does not cover.”

In comments to Advance/SILive.com, Ignizio called Grimm “a great friend.” [and] a great patriot,” he said: “Staten Island always steps up when someone is in need, and I hope they do the same for a former congressman and friend, Michael Grimm.”

The GoFundMe description is as follows:

“Our friend, former Marine, FBI agent and U.S. Congressman Michael Grimm, was paralyzed after a devastating accident when he was thrown from a horse in September 2024. He found himself in the most devastating situation, and by the grace of God, Mr. Grimm miraculously thread the needle to survive. But his ongoing care and treatment to walk again will cost millions of dollars.

“For a man who has dedicated his life to helping others, we now humbly ask you to donate generously to help him,” the fundraising page reads.

Greg Kelly, a former Fox 5 morning anchor and Newsmax colleague of Grimm, said in September that Grimm suffered a neck injury that required surgery and that Grimm was in an undisclosed hospital in Westchester.

Grimm was reportedly playing polo when his horse threw him.

“For a man who has dedicated his life to helping others, we now humbly ask you to donate generously to help him and share it with others who can,” Ignizio wrote.

Grimm has long been an avid equestrian and often posts on social media about his time at the stables and playing polo.

Grimm represented Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn in the House of Representatives from 2010 until January 2015, when he resigned following a federal indictment in 2014 related to fraudulent practices at an Upper East Side health food store that Grimm partially owned.

Ultimately, the former congressman pleaded guilty to tax evasion and served seven months in prison before being released in 2016.

Grimm attempted a congressional comeback in 2018, but lost a GOP primary to incumbent Republican Rep. Dan Donovan, who ultimately lost to Democrat Max Rose that year.

Grimm has largely stayed out of Staten Island politics since then, but has been a vocal supporter of Republican candidate Marko Kepi, who ran a failed campaign for state Senate this year. The two served in the Marine Corps and share a common political mentor: former Brooklyn Republican Senator Marty Golden.

Kepi ​​also posted the GoFundMe on his Facebook page this morning.