New Interview: Grisanti Says His Wife Was Being Attacked

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. -- State Senator Mark Grisanti (R-60th District) is back in Albany after he and his wife were punched after an altercation at the Seneca Niagara Casino in Niagara Falls Friday night.

Grisanti and many other local officials were at the casino to attend the Chairman's Ball event to raise money for the Seneca Diabetes Foundation.

Grisanti says he was punched in the ribs by a man after a verbal exchange. And then punched again, in the back of the head by another man.

Grisanti told 2 On Your Side's Scott Brown in Albany that he wants to put the incident behind him but, defended his actions coming to the aid of his wife Maria.

"When my wife was being attacked and security kept restraining me, I had to keep breaking away from security because wanted to remove me as a Senator and they were not listening to me that 'my wife's on the ground' and I went in there, I was making these sweeping motions to move, clear people out," recalls Senator Grisanti.  "If somebody got hit in any circumstance whatsoever, it's too bad, because my wife was at the bottom of that pile and I would do it again in a heartbeat."

Grisanti's wife Maria, who started to walk his way when the Senator was hit, was then attacked herself and knocked to the ground by two women.

Sen. Grisanti said, "I can take a punch but what happened to her was absolutely disgraceful. And she sustained some injuries and we were concerned. And luckily from the hospital, she's okay."

Grisanti says Maria suffered from a concussion. Seneca Nation of Indians President Robert Odawi Porter released the following statement regarding the incident:

The Seneca Nation has no formal ties to the Diabetes Foundation, nor does Seneca Gaming Corp. and therefore no direct connection to the events that occurred Friday night after the Foundation's gala.

Early this morning, I spoke to Sen. Grisanti to express my concern. I was upset to hear about what transpired at our Niagara Falls property in the incident involving several individuals from the Seneca Nation. I want to express my personal sympathies to the senator and his wife Maria, who attended my inauguration on the senator's behalf in November 2010. We hope she is faring well and is on a speedy path to recovery.

I would hope for better behavior and conduct from everyone at such an event as this, although it transpired sometime after the gala ended. Sadly, one cannot control individual behavior. On behalf of the Seneca Nation, I extend my heartfelt sympathy to Sen. Grisanti, his wife Maria and their family."

2 On Your Side attempted to talk to Niagara Falls Police on camera about the incident, but they declined.  Superintendent Chella did tell us they are still reviewing the surveillance tapes from the incident and no arrests have been made.