Weeks after being accused of inappropriate sexual misconduct toward a young women, Rep. David Wu (D-Ore.) has officially resigned from Congress.
Wu released a statement late Wednesday, but did not acknowledge the allegations he faces.
“Serving as a U.S. congressman has been the greatest honor of my life. There is no other job where you get up each day and ask, ‘How can I try to make the world a better place today?”
Wu’s resignation, which took effect at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, will lead to a special election to succeed him.
An 18-year-old daughter of one of Wu’s campaign donors accused Wu of an unwanted sexual encounter around Thanksgiving of last year.
Wu promised to step down last month but wanted to wait until the U.S. debt ceiling crisis was solved.
Wu, 56, was the first Chinese-American elected to Congress.