The following remarks were prepared for delivery for New York Assistant Director in Charge George Venizelos on the arrest of and charges filed against U.S. Representative Michael Grimm.

Good morning.

As a former FBI agent, Representative Grimm should understand the motto fidelity, bravery, and integrity. Yet he broke our credo at nearly every turn. In this 20-count indictment, Representative Grimm honored a new motto: fraud, perjury, and obstruction.

We demand the best from our political leaders. We expect them to live by the very laws they craft in Washington. We expect them to lead by example and be role models for others.

Today, we again find ourselves expecting and rightfully wanting more. And as citizens of this great nation, we rightfully demand it.

Trust is earned over many years and can evaporate in an instant. Representative Grimm should understand the importance of upholding the public’s trust. Yet he violated that trust time and time again.

Representative Grimm billed himself as a patriot and an American hero. A decorated Marine. A former FBI agent, now representing his fellow citizens of Staten Island and Brooklyn. But Representative Grimm was anything but an upstanding citizen. He cheated, evaded, and then lied.

This is a story about relentless work by a team of FBI agents. The more than two-year investigation wouldn’t have been possible without FBI Special Agents Geoffrey Ford, Mark Person, Blaire Mulloy, and Peter Kilpatrick; their supervisor Jared Whitmier; and Assistant Special Agent in Charge George Khouzami. I’d also like to recognize the Internal Revenue Service’s Acting Special Agent in Charge Richard Majdanski for his agency’s partnership throughout this case.

And most importantly, I would like to thank the United States Attorney, Loretta Lynch, for her commitment to this case throughout the process. This would never have been possible without her and her talented team, including Anthony Capozzolo, Todd Kaminsky, Nathan Reilly, and James Gatta.