Disgraced Lee resigns as photo surfaces

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Congressman Chris Lee, of Clarence, resigned from his post Wednesday, just hours after a shirtless picture of him surfaced on a tabloid website.

Nothing the congressman did was illegal, but the embarrassment and repercussions that would have come from the photo forced him to step down.

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Gawker.com reports that the photo was sent on January 14th to a woman who had placed a message on Craigslist under the "women seeking men" section.

The picture came from a man identifying himself as Christopher Lee, a 39 year old divorced lobbyist. The Congressman is actually 46 and married.

The photo was sent first, and the 34-year-old woman responded, "Are you sure that's not a photo from the JC Penney's ad?"

He responded, "lol...no...here...I just took one. I'm relaxing at home."

She responds, "Thanks do you always send shirtless pictures to women from Craigslist"

He responds, "Sorry, it's all I had."

Gawker.com traced the Gmail account to Lee, and then confirmed the photo was taken in Washington D.C. on January 14.

"After sitting with her, after looking at the emails, after trying to see if it was possible the photos were doctored or that she had an agenda of some sort, was she looking to discredit him in some way, we came to the conclusion that in fact she was telling a story that was true," said Remy Stern, Editor in Chief of Gawker.com.

About three hours after the story hit the internet, Congressman Lee resigned.

Stern said, "We were certainly stunned that he resigned this quickly. I don't think any of us expected that this was gonna happen."

"Our first thought," said Stern, "You know is this really just the tip of the iceberg, is there more to come? Is he looking to kind of make a quick exit?"

This story has several of you talking on our Facebook page .

Jessica posted, "We need to learn to mind our own business. It's not an offensive picture."

Kimberly writes, "In his position, answering and posting a picture on Criagslist was just plain STUPID!!!!"

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