ALBANIA – MP Tom Reed said Sunday he would not run for re-election or governor in 2022 after a woman accused him four years ago of improperly touching in a bar.
The Corning Republican’s decision comes after Reed spoke publicly over the past few weeks about whether or not he should run for governor next year or run for another term.
Instead, Reed said he would stick to a promise he made when he was first elected in 2010 that he would only serve for six terms ending in late 2022.
In a statement, Reed apologized to former lobbyist Nicolette Davis After the Washington Post reported Friday that a drunk reed rubbed her back, moved his hand outside her shirt, loosened her bra, and continued to feel her in a Minneapolis bar.
“First, I apologize to Nicolette Davis,” it says in his 400-word statement. “Although I am only hearing about this matter now, as stated by Ms. Davis in the article, I hear her voice and I will not discharge her.”
On Friday. Reed denied the allegations but said on Sunday: “In reflection, my personal account of this event is irrelevant. Put simply, my behavior caused her pain, showed her disrespect and was unprofessional. I was wrong, I’m sorry and I’ll take it over full responsibility. “
Reed, 49, also apologized to his family, “the people of the 23rd Ward, my colleagues, and those who supported me for the damage they caused.”
Reed represents a strongly republican district that stretches across the southern plain – from the Pennsylvania border to the east via Elmira and north via Ithaca to Ontario County. The district is also one that could be on the chopping block as part of next year’s redistribution.
As a supporter of former President Donald Trump, Reed has also tried to get across the aisle and as a co-leader of the non-partisan problem solver caucus in Congress.
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Reed, the oldest member of the GOP house delegation in New York, said the 2017 incident with Davis, now 29, a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army, occurred at a time when he was struggling with alcoholism.
He said he has been sober for four years from “this personal lifelong journey of recovery. With the support of my wife, children and loved ones, professional help, and trust in a higher power, I continue this journey day in and day out.”
He said his fight against addiction is no excuse for wrongdoing, but he plans to use my time and attention to redress my previous actions and work with those who are also fighting the addiction.
“As I move forward, I will strive to be a better person, keep fighting for what I believe in, and making people’s lives better in every way possible. I hope this formal apology is just the beginning, “he continued.
Reed was a major critic of Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat who has faced a number of allegations of sexual harassment among former female aides. including a current one. Reed also kidnapped Cuomo for the governor’s handling of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes.
He said the USA TODAY Network New York last month He was seriously considering running a gubernatorial run.
But his statement on Sunday said he would not run for office next year and “will therefore retire from the civil service on January 2, 2023”.
Joseph Spector is the government and policy editor for the Atlantic Group of the USA TODAY Network, overseeing coverage in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware. He can be reached at [email protected] or followed on Twitter: @ GannettAlbany
