Rep. Michael Grimm, who represents Staten Island in the House, will resign from Congress after he pleaded guilty to tax evasion charges.
Grimm, a Republican, entered the guilty plea last week and had initially planned on staying in Washington. However, sources for The New York Daily News confirmed that he will resign.
“The events which led to this day did not break my spirit, nor the will of the voters,” Grimm said Monday. "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."
Back in April, he was indicted on 20 counts linked to a health food restaurant he owns, including filing false tax returns and mail fraud. According to CNN, he agreed to plead guilty to a count of aiding in the filing of a false tax return. He won’t be sentenced until June.
Despite the April indictment, Grimm was reelected in November, beating Domenic Recchia. His decision to resign will result in another election to fill the slot.
In January, Grimm threatened to throw a NY1 reporter over a balcony after the State of the Union after the reporter asked him about the investigation into his campaign finances.