Republican New York Rep. Tom Reed has issued an apology and declared he won’t be running for office in 2022 due to new allegations against him of sexual misconduct.
What happened?
Nicolette Davis, 29, told The Washington Post that Reed unhooked her bra without consent. She also shared a text message in which she said that a drunk Congressman was rubbing her back.
- Per The Washington Post, Reed was allegedly drunk when the incident happened back in 2017.
What did Reed say?
Reed said in a statement he had heard of the allegations and he condemned his own behavior.
- “In reflection, my personal depiction of this event is irrelevant,” he said. “Simply put, my behavior caused her pain, showed her disrespect and was unprofessional. I was wrong, I am sorry and I take full responsibility.”
- He said he was “powerless over alcohol.”
- Reed then apologized to his wife and family, saying he hopes to “dedicate my time and attention to making amends for my past actions.”
One more note
Axios reports that Reed was considering a challenge to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the governor’s race. Cuomo has been accused of sexual misconduct, too, as I wrote for the Deseret News.