US Representative Tom Reed, a Republican from western New York who was charged last week rubbing the back of a lobbyist and unbuttoning her bra without her consent in 2017, apologized to the woman on Sunday and announced that she will not run for reelection next year.
Reed, 49, said in a statement that the incident involving then-lobbyist Nicolette Davis occurred “at a time in my life when I was struggling”. He said he went into treatment that year and realized he was “powerless over alcohol”.
Reed apologized to his wife and children, and to Davis, and said he planned to “devote my time and attention to repairing my past actions”.
Reed, first elected to Congress in 2010, was among members of Congress who asked for the resignation of Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo on charges of sexual harassment. In late February, Reed said he was seriously considering running for governor against Cuomo if the Democrat seeks a fourth term next year.
Reed said in his statement on Sunday that he would not seek any elective office in 2022.
The announcement came two days after The Washington Post reported the claims of Davis, who was 25 and a lobbyist for the Aflac insurance company, when she said that Reed, sitting next to her at a bar in Minneapolis, took off her bra. blouse and moved her hand to her thigh.
“A drunk congressman is rubbing my back,” she texted a co-worker at Aflac that night, later adding: “HELP, HELP”.
Reed released a statement on Friday saying, “This account of my actions is not accurate.
In his statement on Sunday, he said: “In reflection, my personal description of this event is irrelevant. Simply put, my behavior caused him pain, showed his disrespect and was unprofessional. I was wrong, I’m sorry and I take full responsibility. ”
Former mayor of Corning, New York, Reed is co-chairman of the House of Representatives’ bipartisan Problem Solving Council.
He voted against the impeachment of former President Donald Trump in January, but he voted in favor of the Democratic Joe Biden’s 2020 election certification.