Messer gets Grimm’s seat on banking panel

Rep. Luke Messer (R-Ind.) is filling the spot vacated by Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.) on the House Financial Services Committee.

The freshman lawmaker announced Tuesday that he had received a slot on the panel.

“Serving on this committee gives me the opportunity to work on issues that are critically important to Hoosier families and business owners throughout our state,” he said in a statement.

Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), who chairs the banking panel, said Messer, who was selected by his peers to serve as president of the freshman class of the 113^th Congress, would be a “valuable asset” to the panel.

The committee has jurisdiction over the nation’s banking system and financial regulators. But it is also known for being a fundraising powerhouse, thanks to its oversight of that deep-pocketed industry.

Grimm was indicted in April, and faces 20 charges accusing him of concealing millions of dollars from his time running a health food store, Healthalicious. The former FBI agent has vowed his innocence, and said he plans to fight the charges and run for another term in Congress.

Grimm is still a member of Congress, but decided to step down from his spot on the committee shortly after the charges were announced. In a letter to Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), he said he planned to rejoin the panel ”upon successful resolution of pending legal matters.”