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Rep. Michael Grimm leaves Federal court in Brooklyn after pleading guilty to a federal tax evasion charge rather than go to trial next month, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2014, in New York. Grimm had been set to go to trial in February on charges of evading taxes by hiding more than $1 million in sales and wages while running a Manhattan health-food restaurant. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Just two months ago, the Staten Island Advance urged voters to elect Michael Grimm to a third term in the Congress.

That while he faced a 20-count federal indictment in connection with a health food restaurant he owned prior to entering political life.

Voters overwhelmingly agreed.

Today, we think Mr. Grimm would be right to step down from his position in the United States Congress.

Charges against Mr. Grimm ranged from accusations he under-reported payroll costs and the amount of money the restaurant earned, to paying workers off the books, to perjury and obstruction of justice.

During the campaign, Mr. Grimm stood steadfast, as did his attorneys. The congressman pledged "to fight tooth and nail until I am fully exonerated," calling the prosecution a "political witch hunt."

Mr. Grimm's attorney, William McGinley, took it a step further when he said, "Congressman Grimm asserts his innocence of any wrongdoing."

The congressman asked you to place your trust in him, and said that he would be vindicated.

Although he never stood on the steps of the Capitol and declared his innocence unequivocally, that certainly was the message.

The Advance took him at his word, and recommended a vote for Mr. Grimm for four basic reasons:

He had not been found guilty. If we are to believe in the American system of justice, a person is innocent until proven guilty. Mr. Grimm had not yet been afforded his day in court.

His Democratic opponent might have been an effective member of the New York City Council, but we did not believe he would be an effective member of the United States Congress.

Mr. Grimm has a command of the issues affecting the district, as well as those concerning foreign policy and national affairs.

The congressman worked tirelessly in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy for those devastated by the storm, was a strong proponent for state acquisition of homes in low-lying areas that should be returned to nature, and carried a flood insurance bill to the desk of the president that put off monumental hikes in premiums.

On Tuesday, Mr. Grimm had his day in court. He used it to tell the court, and his constituents, that he is guilty.

"Before being elected, I was a small business owner of a little restaurant in Manhattan and made some very big mistakes...As difficult as it is to admit when you are wrong, I was..."

Mr. Grimm went on to discuss what so many say: Everybody does it.

"I have already been inundated with comments about how everyone does this, from landscapers to nannies to most restaurants here in the city, but it is wrong. Let me be clear, regardless of how prevalent, it is wrong and I should never have done it..."

Of course, he is right. There is no doubt that the practice is prevalent. And, of course, that doesn't make it right.

We understand that Mr. Grimm did not commit these crimes as a sitting congressman, besmirching his office.

What troubles us more than what he did as a restaurateur in an effort to make a living, was his decision to mislead his constituents in asking for their vote -- and their confidence.

When the charges were levied, he didn't try to get ahead of them by admitting to exactly what he admitted Tuesday in court.

Instead, he assured the voters he would fight until found innocent.

When we endorsed Mr. Grimm for reelection, we said flatly that if convicted, he must step down.

Before some quibble that he entered a plea of guilty and thus was not convicted by a judge or jury, a guilty plea, or a no contest plea, equates to a conviction.

Fighting a federal government intent on proving its case is an uphill battle, if not impossible. We can imagine the anguish Mr. Grimm and his family experienced each day. And we do think Mr. Grimm's assertion that a "political witch hunt" was under way probably holds some truth.

After all, the government was said to be looking at Mr. Grimm's campaign finances. When nothing turned up there, we do not doubt there were some on the federal level doing cartwheels when they discovered he owned a small restaurant in a previous life.

No doubt something there, they must have theorized.

We have little doubt that legions of Mr. Grimm's supporters will stand by him, and defend him.

But we also have little doubt that many on Staten Island are feeling their trust was misplaced and they were betrayed.

Over almost half a century, three different Staten Island representatives to the United States Congress have surrendered their better judgment, squandering their own significant talents that, in each instance, could have brought pride to our borough.

Instead, they brought embarrassment.

There are certain people who must be held to high standards in America. In recent months, we have seen so many examples of that. Police immediately come to mind. So does the mayor of New York.

People with whom we place our trust.

A United States congressman must be at, or certainly near, the top of that list.

Mr. Grimm the restaurateur didn't let us down when he played fast and loose with the books. Mr. Grimm the Staten Island congressman did, when he played fast and loose with the truth.