http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/29/politics/ ... sign-soon/Michael Grimm announces resignation
Washington (CNN) -- Rep. Michael Grimm announced late Monday night plans to resign from Congress, after pleading guilty to a felony tax evasion charge last week.
The announcement came just hours after a source familiar with Grimm's thinking told CNN he would resign "sooner rather than later," after the New York Daily News broke the news of Grimm's plans to step down.
"After much thought and prayer, I have made the very difficult decision to step down from Congress effective January 5th, 2015. This decision is made with a heavy heart, as I have enjoyed a very special relationship and closeness with my constituents, whom I care about deeply," Grimm said in a statement issued shortly before midnight by his office.
The Staten Island congressman was indicted in April on 20 counts relating to his health food restaurant, Healthalicious, including charges that he filed false tax returns; engaged in mail fraud, wire fraud and perjury; and knowingly hired undocumented workers.
House Speaker John Boehner called Grimm's decision to step down "honorable" in a statement on Tuesday.
"I know it was made with the best interests of his constituents and the institution in mind, and I appreciate his years of service in the House," Boehner said.
A Republican congressional source said Boehner and Grimm spoke Monday before Grimm announced his plans to resign.
During last Tuesday's hearing, Grimm pleaded guilty to one count of aiding in the filing of a false tax return, a plea that's expected to bring him months of jail time.
In the statement announcing his plans to resign, Grimm said that "the events which led to this day did not break my spirit, nor the will of the voters," but that he feels he won't be able to serve effectively in the new Congress.
"However, I do not believe that I can continue to be 100% effective in the next Congress, and therefore, out of respect for the Office and the people I so proudly represent, it is time for me to start the next chapter of my life," he said.
The decision to resign marks a change of heart for the Staten Island Republican, who rejected calls to step down after he entered his guilty plea.
He apologized for his actions and took responsibility, and said that the unpaid taxes from a New York restaurant he once owned were a mistake.
"As long as I'm able to serve I'm going to serve," he said. Grimm was re-elected in November and was to be sworn in to a new term in January.
While there's nothing in the Constitution or House Rules barring felons from serving in Congress, the situation created an unwanted headache and negative attention for Boehner as he seeks to head into the new Congress starting with a clean slate.
While he gave up his seat on the House Financial Services Committee after he was charged, Grimm repeatedly insisted he would be "fully exonerated."
According to the Daily News, however, Grimm admitted to the conduct alleged in his 20-count indictment in a document to the court.
The indictment came down just months before what was already expected to be a tough re-election fight for the perennial Democratic target. His Staten Island-area district went for President Barack Obama in 2012, but despite the cloud of the indictment hanging over his head, Grimm pulled out an easy win over his Democratic challenger in November.[His opponent must have been a real doozie...if you can't beat a guy with a 20 count indictment, you should probably pick another line of work...]
I strongly suspect that his "change of heart" had more to do with his meeting with Boehner then with "thought and prayer"...
I imagine that Boehner said something along the lines of, "Listen you sonuvabitch, if you don't resign, the first order of business in the new session will be an expulsion vote"....
That would certainly have gotten the new congress off on a bipartisan note...
and one but instead they chose someone who seemingly out of his way to insult the eletorate.