Rep. Tom Reed Calls It Quits

GOP lawmaker gave no reason,, but he was dogged by a sexual misconduct allegation
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted May 10, 2022 3:18 PM CDT
Rep. Tom Reed Calls It Quits
In this Nov. 6, 2017 file photo Rep. Tom Reed, R-N.Y., listens during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. Reed, who was accused of sexual misconduct stemming from a 2017 incident, announced his resignation in a floor speech.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

New York Congressman Tom Reed is resigning, leaving office more than seven months before the end of his term. Reed said last year that he would not seek reelection after he was accused of sexual misconduct, but he announced in a speech on the floor of the US House that he was resigning Tuesday, the AP reports. He did not give a reason for his resignation but said he wanted to put "people before politics" and "I am leaving to continue that work and hope to have a greater impact on our country." His office did not immediately respond to messages seeking more details.

The Republican from western New York was accused of rubbing a female lobbyist’s back and unhooking her bra, without her consent, at an event in a Minneapolis pub in 2017. Reed apologized days after the allegations were reported in March 2021 and said the incident occurred at a time in which he said he was "struggling" and entered treatment after realizing he was "powerless over alcohol." New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office did not immediately respond to questions about when she would call a special election to fill Reed’s seat before November’s elections.

Reed is a former mayor of Corning, New York and was first elected to Congress in 2010. He was a co-chair of the House of Representatives’ bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. He voted against impeaching former President Donald Trump in January 2021 but voted in favor of certifying the 2020 election of President Biden. Reed’s announcement comes after he already said he would not seek reelection. He was the second New York Republican who is not planning to run again this year. Upstate New York Rep. John Katko, who was among 10 House GOP lawmakers who voted to impeach Trump, announced earlier this year he would not seek reelection. (More congressional Republicans stories.)

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