Grisanti fight video at casino released

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) - An explosive video from the Friday night brawl at the Seneca Niagara casino involving Senator Mark Grisanti and his wife has been released by the attorney representing a Seneca Nation businessman and his wife.

Attorney Gerald Walsh claims Senator Grisanti rushed at his clients and hit them - an incident he says was caught on cell phone video.

"It's clear to me from the videotape that he's the aggressor at that point," said Walsh.

The video begins with Senator Grisanti on the floor. He then stands up and appears to be shouting. Seneca businessman Eric White and his wife, Kristina, come into frame.

>>Watch the entire video for yourself in this story, but be aware it does contain some profanity

Walsh stated, "They say Senator Grisanti threw the blow."

The video, obtained by News 4, shows the aftermath of an initial brawl involving Senator Grisanti and White. Walsh says his clients were leaving the casino when they claim Senator Grisanti rushed them.

"I think what happened is there was a glancing blow towards my client and he fell. His knee buckled, he fell, and my client's wife Kristina got hit on the side of the face," argued Walsh.

The video, which shows Senator Grisanti in a choke hold being restrained, is separate from the initial brawl that started a chain of events leading to Grisanti's wife, Maria, suffering a concussion and bruises. The Grisantis claim they were physically attacked after the Senator tried to calm down a heated argument between two Seneca businessmen.

"I was trying to diffuse a situation where this was going to get out of hand - I could feel it - and I probably shouldn't have done that. I probably should have just walked away," said Senator Grisanti.

Walsh, who released the video, says his clients wanted to come forward and offer another perspective.

Walsh said, "I think he was frustrated by the publicity that was going on over the weekend. And so he and his wife, they wanted to at least get the facts out there."

The attorney says he's turned over a copy of the video to Niagara Falls Police. Detectives say they are still investigating and taking statements and at this point no charges have been filed.

Senator Grisanti was unavailable to comment, but in a statement, his chief of staff says the video shows only the final few minutes of prolonged altercation and that it's consistent with what the Senator has stated previously.