Earlier today, Gawker ran a story on upstate Republican congressman Chris Lee in which he sent some photos of himself—one shirtless—to a woman he met on Craigslist. In the e-mails he also told her he was a divorced 39-year-old lobbyist (he's married and 46). Honestly, we didn't think too much of it because in the age of Elliot Spitzer and John Edwards (not to mention European politicians like Silvio Berlusconi) a married pol seeking extracurricular lovin' is about as surprising as a hangover after a heavy night of drinking. But apparently Lee isn't as jaded as we are. His resignation notice, effective immediately, is already up on his website.
Lee was elected to the 26th district in 2008 and was re-elected in 2010. His resignation now triggers a special election, which Governor Cuomo can call at his discretion. Once he does call it, however, it must be held within 30 and 40 days. And for what it is worth, John McCain won the district in 2008 with 52 percent of the vote.
