Reed, who was first elected to Congress in 2010, said Sunday that he would not seek election to public office in 2022. The six-term Republican previously said he would not serve more than six terms in the House of Representatives, but he had been considering a run for New York governor next year.
Nicolette Davis, who is currently an Army officer but was working as a lobbyist at the time of the alleged incident in 2017.
She told the Post that a drunk Reed unhooked her bra from the outside of her blouse and moved his hand up her thigh. Davis, 25 at the time and a junior lobbyist for the insurance company Aflac, said she asked for help from a colleague sitting next to her, who intervened and stopped Reed.
Reed initially told the publication, “This account of my actions is not accurate,” but in another statement, published on Twitter Sunday, he apologized.
“First, I apologize to Nicolette Davis. Even though I am only hearing of this matter as stated by Ms. Davis in the article now, I hear her voice and will not dismiss her. In reflection, my personal depiction of this event is irrelevant,” he wrote.
“Simply put, my behavior caused her pain, showed her disrespect and was unprofessional. I was wrong, I am sorry, and I take full responsibility,” he added.
He also apologized to his wife, kids, family members, colleagues, supporters and “the people of the 23rd District” who were affected by his actions.
He said the incident occurred when he was struggling with alcoholism, and he has been recovering from his addiction for four years.
Reed — who said this February that he was considering running for New York governor against Andrew Cuomo — also announced Sunday that he will not run for any elected office in 2022 and will be retiring from public service entirely on Jan. 2, 2023.
Reed has repeatedly been outspoken about sexual harassment and misconduct following the explosion of the #MeToo campaign in late 2017.
As several women stepped forward to accuse New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo of harassment or other acts of misconduct in recent weeks, Reed had called for him to be impeached.
In 2017, Reed supported a House resolution requiring lawmakers and their staff to receive workplace sexual harassment training. He also supported legislation in 2018 that required lawmakers to be held personally liable for lawsuit settlements with staffers alleging harassment.
