The chairman of Pennsylvania's Democratic Party abruptly resigned Friday after he told a newspaper that it was "for the people to decide - not me," if a Montgomery County lawmaker accused of harassment had acted inappropriately.

The resignation of Marcel Groen, a Montgomery County attorney and a decades-long fixture of state politics, comes as Democrats look to defend the Governor's Office, make inroads in the Legislature, and try to capitalize on Republican retirements in the state's Congressional delegation.

"I accept full responsibility for comments attributed to me in an article printed several days ago in The Philadelphia Inquirer by Will Bunch," Groen wrote Friday in an equivocating email to state party members. "Some of my comments were taken out of context and some were inaccurate. They were certainly in artful and in hindsight were not offered with the level of clarity I would have liked."

He added that he was stepping down because he'd been asked to do so by Gov. Tom Wolf, but insisted that "I have done no wrong."

This week, Bunch reported that Democratic activists had grown increasingly frustrated with what they viewed as Groen's silence in the face of the #MeToo movement and news that two Democratic lawmakers, both accused of harassment, planned to run for re-election.

The state party had been faulted for failing to publicly condemn either of the lawmaker at the center of the harassment scandals: state Sen. Daylin Leach, D-Montgomery and Rep. Thomas Caltagirone, D-Berks.

Groen has also faced criticism for the state party's glacial progress on adopting a sexual harassment policy after it was revealed that a delegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia claimed that she had been sexually assaulted by a fellow delegate.

In a column published Tuesday, Bunch wrote that Groen "gave halting answers about how the state party has dealt with sexual harassment issues, pausing to add, 'the governor is already pissed off at me,' as the 72-year-old Montgomery County Democrat raised, unsolicited, the question of whether his two-year-plus run as party leader can survive the movement against sexual misconduct and patriarchy that activists have dubbed #TimesUp."

Bunch also reported that "In the interview, Groen insisted that neither he nor the party will tolerate unwanted sexual touching or sexual harassment in the workplace, although he also repeatedly stressed his concern that "it's important that we keep our balance" amid growing calls for more aggressive enforcement.

He said "these charges are very powerful and people that are being charged also should have the right to defend themselves."

In his email, Groen wrote that he had "always believed that the Commonwealth's Chief Executive should have final say on whom the Chairman of the Party should be. The Governor's staff informed me that he no longer wants me to serve as Chairman of the Party.

"While I have done no wrong and disagree with the Governor's assessment, I do not wish to be a distraction to a Party that has to rectify gerrymandered maps and elect strong and civically responsible candidates throughout Pennsylvania. As such, I will honor his request and will immediately resign my position as Party Chair."

Here's the full text of Groen's email to state Democrats:

Dear State Committee Members:

I accept full responsibility for comments attributed to me in an article printed several days ago in The Philadelphia Inquirer by Will Bunch. Some of my comments were taken out of context and some were inaccurate. They were certainly in artful and in hindsight were not offered with the level of clarity I would have liked. I have been involved in Democratic politics for 47 years. I am proud of my record in helping build a party and political infrastructure, first in Montgomery County, and for the last two and a half years throughout the Commonwealth.

I have met with wonderful Democratic Committee members, elected officials and activists in every county of the state, I am proud of helping women run, win and serve in government. I am especially proud that I was instrumental in helping four women win seats on our Appellate Court this year, including the first African American woman to serve on the Superior Court.

On both the County and State levels, I have always sought to foster a party that is inclusive and tolerant. I am proud of our accomplishments as a party and community. I have always believed that the Commonwealth's Chief Executive should have final say on whom the Chairman of the Party should be.

The Governor's staff informed me that he no longer wants me to serve as Chairman of the Party.

While I have done no wrong and disagree with the Governor's assessment, I do not wish to be a distraction to a Party that has to rectify gerrymandered maps and elect strong and civically responsible candidates throughout Pennsylvania. As such, I will honor his request and will immediately resign my position as Party Chair. I came to this Country by boat, when I was only ten years old.

I spoke no English and was raised by parents who endured the Holocaust, and continued to suffer from the effects of tyranny and hate the remainder of their lives.

That formed my convictions and my values. I have always believed in the strength of our country and the values of our institutions to fight that hate and instead work to our best inclinations. In this time of division, I feel more strongly than ever that united fronts will serve our greater good in the legislative and social battles to come.

I look forward to assisting our many fine candidates and public servants in the weeks, months, and years to come. I am honored to have served as Chairman of the Democratic Party and thank the State Committee members, elected officials and many others with whom I have come in contact.

I wish all of you success not only this year, but in the years to come."