US Representative Tom Reed, a Republican from western New York charged last week from rubbing the back of a female lobbyist and loosening her bra without her consent in 2017, apologized to the woman on Sunday and announced that he will not run for reelection next year.
Reed, 49, said in a statement that the incident involving then-lobbyist Nicolette Davis took place “at a time in my life when I was struggling.” He said he entered treatment that year and realized he was “powerless over alcohol.”
Reed apologized to his wife and children, and to Davis, saying that he intended to “spend my time and attention making amends for my past actions.”
Reed, who was first elected to Congress in 2010, was among the members of Congress and called for the resignation of Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo over allegations of sexual harassment. In late February, Reed said he was seriously considering running for governor against Cuomo should the Democrat seek a fourth term next year.
Reed said in his statement on Sunday that he would not be looking for an elective in 2022.
The announcement came two days after The Washington Post reported the allegations of Davis, who was 25 and lobbyist for insurer Aflac, when she said Reed was sitting next to her in a Minneapolis bar, unhooking her bra from outside her blouse and moving his hand to her thigh.
“A drunken congressman rubs my back,” she texted a colleague at Aflac that night and later added, “HELP HELP.”
Reed released a statement on Friday saying, “This account of my actions is incorrect.”
In his statement on Sunday, he said: “On closer inspection, my personal account of this event is irrelevant. Simply put, my behavior caused her pain, showed her disrespect, and was unprofessional. I was wrong, I’m sorry, and I take full responsibility. ”
Reed, former mayor of Corning, New York, is co-chair of the House of Representatives’ bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus.
He voted against impeaching former President Donald Trump in January, but voted to certify Democrat Joe Biden’s election in 2020.