Grimm was the first local Republican to target the senator's East Coast trip. | JAY WESTCOTT/POLITICO Grimm takes aim at Paul

New York Rep. Michael Grimm became the first local Republican to swing a bat at Sen. Rand Paul tonight, after POLITICO reported the libertarian lawmaker is heading to the East Coast for fundraisers.

The Staten Island Republican wrote a letter to Manhattan GOP chairman Dan Isaacs asking him to “rescind your invitation” to Paul (R-Ky.) to attend the Aug. 13 fundraiser, which he is headlining, “in light of his recent remarks criticizing Northeast Republican leaders over Sandy relief aid,” according a letter obtained by POLITICO.


“As a fellow New Yorker, I am certain that you remember the tremendous damage that was caused in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy,” he wrote.

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He added, “It is clear that if Senator Paul had his way, New York City and the residents who lost so much would not have seen a single penny of federal recovery aid. His recent remarks against his fellow GOP leaders, who successfully brought relief, are disgraceful. He has insulted every Northeast Republican who took a stand for their districts, states, and this very city. He turned his back on us, and now he expects us to turn a blind eye and open our wallets for him. I don’t think so.”

Northeast Republicans can only build their brand by remaining “true to our principles to strengthen national security and cut wasteful spending, without abandoning Americans in times of disaster. Senator Paul turned his back on us. He is no friend of New York, and should not be treated as such.”

Isaacs couldn’t be reached for comment.

Paul slammed officials who said “gimme” post-Sandy money, a reference to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who’d criticized the senator’s calls for curtailing NSA dragnets as dangerous.