Grimm's future in Congress "doesn't look very bright"

Will convicted congressman be forced to resign?

U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm pleaded guilty to a tax evasion charge in federal court in Brooklyn on Tuesday. The Staten Island Republican congressman has said that he has no current plans to resign his seat, but his GOP colleagues could persuade him otherwise.

Major Garrett CBS News

CBS News chief White House correspondent Major Garrett told CBSN Grimm's future in Congress "doesn't look very bright." Speaker John Boehner and the House Republican leadership can pressure Grimm to step down. Boehner and Grimm have not yet spoken, but Garrett said he expects it to not go in Grimm's favor.

"Pleading guilty to a serious federal offense, as Congressman Grimm has just done, is a line that once crossed usually is irretrievable," Garrett said.

The Republican leadership has already signaled its displeasure with Grimm. At Boehner's urging, the Republican National Committee cut off financial assistance to Grimm's November reelection campaign, although Grimm easily won the race regardless.

"Politically, he was on his own and prevailed," Garrett said. "Legally, he's also on his own. I don't think he's going to legally prevail within the confines of the House Republican conference."

Grimm faces up to three years in prison when he's sentenced June 8. One thing that is working in Grimm's favor, according to Garrett, is that most if not all of the activity he plead guilty to happened before he was elected to Congress.

However, Grimm also admitted to lying to federal prosecutors in a 2013 deposition, after taking office.

"That's going to make it very very difficult for Congressman Grimm to persuade his Republican colleagues he should have a chance to stay in Congress," Garrett said.

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