An image of Chris Lee stripped to the waist, which he allegedly sent to a woman, appeared on the Gawker gossip website

This article is more than 9 years old

This article is more than 9 years old

A Republican congressman has resigned after apparently sending a picture of himself stripped to the waist, to a woman who had advertised for a man on the internet.

Chris Lee's resignation came after the Gawker gossip website posted the image, and reported exchanges between the married New York congressman and the woman.

According to Gawker, the 34-year-old woman posted an ad last month in the women seeking men section of the Craigslist website looking for men who did not "look like toads" and were emotionally and financially secure.

He is alleged to have replied: "Hope I'm not a toad. i'm a very fit fun classy guy. Live in Cap Hill area. 6ft 190lbs blond/blue. 39. Lobbyist. I promise not to disappoint."

Lee issued a statement late Wednesday: "I regret the harm that my actions have caused my family, my staff and my constituents. I deeply and sincerely apologise to them all. I have made profound mistakes and I promise to work as hard as I can to seek their forgiveness.

"The challenges we face in Western New York and across the country are too serious for me to allow this distraction to continue, and so I am announcing that I have resigned my seat in Congress effective immediately."

He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2008 and re-elected last year.