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U.S. Representative Tom Reed, a Republican from western New York City who was accused last week of rubbing a lobbyist’s back and unhooking her bra without her consent in 2017, spoke up. apologized to the woman on Sunday and announced he would not stand for re-election next year. .
Reed, 49, said in a statement that the incident involving then-lobbyist Nicolette Davis happened “at a time in my life when I was struggling.” He said he started treatment that year and found he was “helpless in the face of alcohol”.
Reed apologized to his wife and children, as well as Davis, and said he planned to “devote my time and attention to making amends for my past actions.”
Reed, who was first elected to Congress in 2010, was among members of Congress calling for the resignation of Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo over allegations of sexual harassment. In late February, Reed said he was seriously considering running for governor against Cuomo if the Democrat sought a fourth term next year.
Reed said in his statement on Sunday that he would not seek any elected office in 2022.
The announcement came two days after the Washington Post reported the allegations of Davis, who was 25 and a lobbyist for insurer Aflac, when she said that Reed, sitting next to her in a bar in Minneapolis, had unhooked her bra from the outside of her blouse and moved her hand to her thigh.
“A drunken congressman rubs my back,” she texted a colleague at Aflac that evening, later adding, “HELP HELP.”
Reed released a statement Friday saying, “This account of my actions is not accurate.”
In his statement on Sunday, he said: “On second thought, my personal portrayal of this event is irrelevant. Simply put, my behavior caused him pain, showed him disrespect, and was unprofessional. I was wrong, I’m sorry and take full responsibility for it. “
Former mayor of Corning, New York, Reed is co-chair of the bipartisan House of Representatives problem-solving caucus.
He voted against the impeachment of former President Donald Trump in January, but voted to certify the election of Democrat Joe Biden in 2020.
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