WASHINGTON — Consultant Tom Reed, Republican of New York, mentioned on Sunday that he wouldn’t run for any political workplace in 2022, together with governor, after a former lobbyist accused him of touching her inappropriately throughout a weekend political journey in 2017.
In a prolonged assertion, Mr. Reed, 49, who was first elected to Congress in 2010, apologized to the previous lobbyist, Nicolette Davis, whose story was reported on Friday by The Washington Publish. Mr. Reed mentioned that he took “full accountability” for the episode and that it “occurred at a time in my life through which I used to be struggling” with an alcohol habit.
“Despite the fact that I’m solely listening to of this matter as acknowledged by Ms. Davis within the article now, I hear her voice and won’t dismiss her,” Mr. Reed mentioned. “In reflection, my private depiction of this occasion is irrelevant. Merely put, I prompted her ache, confirmed her disrespect and was unprofessional. I used to be incorrect, I’m sorry and I take full accountability.”
Earlier than Ms. Davis’s allegation, Mr. Reed was publicly mulling a run for governor in 2022, telling Fox Information in February that he was “critically contemplating” such a bid as Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo got here underneath fireplace for a wave of accusations of sexual harassment and different misconduct. Mr. Reed additionally mentioned on Sunday that he wouldn’t run for re-election to his seat in Congress, citing a pledge he made to voters when he was first elected to serve solely six phrases.
Ms. Davis advised The Publish that when she was a 25-year-old lobbyist for the insurance coverage firm Aflac, Mr. Reed had groped her at an Irish pub in Minneapolis after a day of ice fishing with donors, politicians and lobbyists. Whereas intoxicated, Mr. Reed positioned his hand on her again, she mentioned, unclasped her bra by way of her shirt and moved his hand up her thigh earlier than Ms. Davis requested the person sitting subsequent to her to intervene.
After her accusation was made public on Friday, Mr. Reed mentioned in an announcement that the “account of my actions will not be correct,” however didn’t elaborate or deny the encounter outright.
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