NY congressman to resign after pleading guilty to tax evasion
NEW YORK » A New York congressman says he’ll resign from office next week just days after pleading guilty to tax evasion.
Republican Rep. Michael Grimm issued a statement late Monday saying he plans to resign effective Jan. 5.
A week after pleading guilty to aiding in the filing of a false tax return, he said the events that led to his decision didn’t break his spirit. But he said he could not be 100 percent effective in the next Congress and must resign.
After the plea, he had said he would stay in Congress as long as he could. But Grimm reportedly spoke with House Speaker John Boehner before deciding to step down.
He was re-elected to his Staten Island seat in November.
The new Congress is scheduled to open Jan. 6.