Congressman Michael Grimm Will Resign

In the wake of his unexpected guilty plea to one count of tax fraud, Congressman Michael Grimm has decided to resign from Congress, effective January 5.

Initially, the congressman said he would continue to serve despite his guilty plea, and would only resign if a conviction left him “unable to serve,” implying jail time, but apparently changed his mind after a Monday conversation with House Speaker John Boehner, sources told the New York Daily News.

“The events which led to this day did not break my spirit, nor the will of the voters,” Grimm said in a statement. “However, I do not believe that I can continue to be 100 percent 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.”

Before his guilty plea, Grimm was headed to trial for a 20-counts indictment for tax evasion and illegal employment practices related to an Upper East Side fast food restaurant he owned before he ran for Congress. Despite his legal woes, Grimm defeated Democrat Domenic Recchia in November’s election 55 percent to 42 percent.

If Grimm does resign, Governor Andrew Cuomo will call a special election. The Daily News reports that several elected officials have already expressed interest in Grimm’s seat:

GOP candidates could include Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan, who has faced scathing criticism over a grand jury’s failure to hand down an indictment in the Eric Garner case, along with Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis and state Sen. Andrew Lanza.

One GOP insider said Donovan was the early favorite. “He is lining up the support of the party heads,” the insider said. “It seems pretty clear he may emerge as the nominee.”

Malliotakis said in a statement Monday night that she is interested in running in the special election.

There are no primaries in a special election. Rather, the parties choose one candidate each who will compete in a single special election.