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Christopher Lee, a married congressman, sent picture of himself to woman on Craigslist.
Photo provided by Gawker shows Rep. Chris Lee, R-N.Y., posing shirtless in front of a mirror.
AP/gawker photo
CLARENCE, N.Y. — Rep. Christopher Lee of western New York abruptly resigned with only a vague explanation of regret after a gossip website reported that the married congressman had sent a shirtless photo of himself flexing his muscles to a woman whose Craigslist ad he answered.
“I regret the harm that my actions have caused my family, my staff and my constituents,” Lee posted in a surprise announcement Wednesday night on his congressional website. “I deeply and sincerely apologize to them all. I have made profound mistakes and I promise to work as hard as I can to seek their forgiveness.”
A woman described as a 34-year-old Maryland resident and government employee provided the Gawker website with e-mails she said were an exchange between her and Lee in response to an ad she placed last month in the “Women Seeking Men” section of Craigslist.
Gawker reported Wednesday that Lee, 46, identified himself as a divorced 39-year-old lobbyist and sent a photo of himself posing in front of a mirror.
Lee, a two-term Republican with a young son, said in an e-mailed statement that his resignation was effective immediately. The statement offered no confirmation or details of a Craigslist post.
On Thursday, House Speaker John Boehner said Lee’s rapid resignation was his decision alone.