Weiner makes resignation official Monday

WASHINGTON -- Anthony Weiner made his resignation from Congress official on Monday, sending a two-sentence letter to New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and the two top U.S. House leaders.

"I hereby resign as the member of the House of Representatives for New York's Ninth Congressional District effective at midnight, Tuesday, June 21, 2011," he wrote. "It has been an honor to serve the people of Queens and Brooklyn."

The letter came four days after the Forest Hills Democrat announced during a raucous news conference that he was quitting because his sexting scandal had become a distraction for his party and Congress.

He signed the letter on his official congressional stationery and addressed it to Cuomo, New York Secretary of State Cesar Perales, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). The House could accept the resignation, which comes part-way through his seventh term, as soon as Tuesday.

The letter clears the way for Cuomo to decide what to do about setting a date for a special election to fill Weiner's unfinished term.

Cuomo aides told Newsday last week that the governor is expected to call a special election on primary or Election Day this year. That would avoid the cost of a special election. The winner would finish only the final year of Weiner's term and would have to run again in 2012.

Some lawmakers said the state Senate could eliminate the Ninth District because it must wipe out two New York districts for redistricting. That could make an election for that seat next year unnecessary.