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Subscribe to RSSRep. Gabrielle Giffords, gravely wounded in a shooting a year ago, will resign from Congress. NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reports.
Updated at 6:02 p.m. ET
Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D) will resign from Congress this week, she announced in a video message posted Sunday.
Giffords, the victim of a gunshot wound to the head in an attack a year ago in her Arizona district, cited her continued work toward recovery as a reason for stepping down from her seat.
"I have more work to do on my recovery, so to do what is best for Arizona I will step down this week," she said in a video message posted to YouTube. "I will return and we will work together for Arizona and this great country."
According to a statement posted on her Congressional website, Giffords will attend Tuesday night's State of the Union address as one of her final acts as a member of Congress before submitting her resignation to Speaker John Boehner on Wednesday. The statement also says Giffords plans to "finish" the Congress on your Corner event where the shooting happened before she leaves office.
"Gabby Giffords embodies the very best of what public service should be. She's universally admired for qualities that transcend party or ideology - a dedication to fairness, a willingness to listen to different ideas, and a tireless commitment to the work of perfecting our union. That's why the people of Arizona chose Gabby - to speak and fight and stand up for them," President Obama said in a statement Sunday evening. "Gabby's cheerful presence will be missed in Washington. But she will remain an inspiration to all whose lives she touched - myself included. And I'm confident that we haven't seen the last of this extraordinary American."
Giffords has enjoyed a remarkable recovery since being shot in that Jan. 8, 2011 incident that left six dead.
Prior to that shooting, she had been considered a rising Democratic star, and had been considering a bid for Senate this fall. During the course of her recovery, she has been absent from Capitol Hill except for a surprise return to vote in August on an agreement to raise the nation's debt ceiling.
“I salute Congresswoman Giffords for her service, and for the courage and perseverance she has shown in the face of tragedy. She will be missed,” House Speaker John Boehner said in a statement.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi reacted to the announcement in a statement saying Giffords "has been a true bright star - a dynamic and creative public servant. Gabby's message of bipartisanship and civility is one that all in Washington and the nation should honor and emulate." Pelosi continued, "I join all my colleagues in Congress in thanking Gabby for the honor of calling her colleague and wishing Gabby and Mark great success and happiness. She will be missed in the House of Representatives, but her legacy in the Congress and her leadership for our nation will certainly continue."
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God bless you and your family Gabby! Your life's work and your hard won recovery are an inspiration. All the best. Take care.
Congress losing another Democrat which no doubt will be filled by a f&%#ing Republican!!!!
So let's see.......,
Gabby resigns her seat. The Governor of her state (Texas) appoints her replacement. There's another Republican seat won.
Inch by inch, we will take over all of congress as well as the White House for the next eight years.
joey,
Tuscon is in Arizona... Still, governor Brewer will do a fine job finding a replacement which will help this country.
Well if the governor of texas gets to vote on who replaces her in Arizona, then I know that Washington is beyond help.
Can you place your finger on the map and find ANY state? Typical example of the ignorance of the GOP/TP followers, they just open their mouth to say anything that sounds hateful.
KEITH, are you serious. Brewer is a corrupt and divisive B — — — H.
She will find some Repuglican hack to replace Gabby and as one of her constituents that idea makes me sick.
I wish only the best for Gabbie. He courage is inspirational. We will miss having a representative like her.
ras,
Easy for you to comment on someones mistake, after it been pointed out by someone else...
I find it the left that has little ability outside the liberal arts, Most libs are mathematically illiterate (5 trillion in obama debt) and as far as geography goes, the average liberal couldn't name 25 of the fifty states.
I totally agree Chris- I love Gabby and hope she does well- but the Governor is a racist. I hope congress gets off their asses and passes a path to citizenship for the 11 million illegals here many of whom already pay taxes without any benefits from them.
chris,
Gov. Brewer is a great leader with both courage and charisma. She'll fill the seat vacated by Gabby with someone who will do a fine job repairing some of the damage done by obama.
We all wish the best for Gabby.
Took a minute, but I see things went to the bottom of the barrel. Why can't you just wish the woman well and move on? Why all of the political BS? I hope she continues to recover and that the people of ARIZONA get the privilege of having her work for them again. It was a horrible act by a twisted soul.
toba,
It's not racist to want illegals to pack up their illegals butts and get the hell out of our country. We need more leaders like that. It's past time to stop providing medical care, education and other benefits to criminals (illegals)...
Sorry folks, Had a Perry moment there and mixed up the states...LOL
Keith, when you have some really factual and intelligent thing to say about liberals and their ignorance, please let me know.
Your right Tired voter. Good luck Gabby.
Now, that said, we can get back to politics.
ras,
I believe I've discounted you ignorant comment already. It wasn't you that corrected the simple mistake by joey, it was I.
You were the idiot that had to try and make it a personal assault on him. Fairly typical of your kind. Probably tormented kittens when you were a kid...
If all of you brilliant constitutionalists had actually read the document, you would then know that there are no such thing as appointed or otherwise non-elected House members. The seat will remain vacant until filled by a special election. Sheesh.
This is the sort of brilliance with which the rightwing extremists wish to replace Ms Giffords. Texas? You can't make this stuff up. Of course the barrage of equally ridiculous remarks that followed only served to solidify that disturbing observation of some here for whom politics trumps class.
Keith- the next time u sit at your dinner table and eat nice picked vegetables u can thank the illegals for it. Why don't u get off your duff and go out and pick them- You wouldn't last one day. You-d be looking for your air conditioning. Many farmers in Arizona and Alabama are blaming these racist laws in the fact that they can't get citizens to do the same job- either they don't show up or they are too lazy to do the work- they want to go back to their easy unemploment checks. Get your facts straight idiot then talk!!!!!!
Very strong classy person....she'll be back
You're looking good there Gabby..relax and enjoy your life forget about Washington DC... its all BS there now. Having people like you there is a very rare thing but its way too messed up now..what you're doing is correct way to go and thank you for serving our country as a congresswoman of the USA.
Amazing Lady! And there she is also thinking what is best for her state, Arizona. I have no doubt that she will get back, if she desires it. Great respect for her, and hoping for a full recovery, God Bless.
All the best to you and Mark. Hope to be voting for you soon.
Gabby.. May God Bless you and your family!
Good luck Gabby. I think we all hope you will be able to resume a public service postion in the future, but for now, you really do need to concentrate on getting back as much you can of your self. I am a Republican, but I would vote for you in a second if you ever decide to run again. If you decide to just live a private life , that's okay too.
God Bless Gabby, wish a full recovery, I have been down that road with my wife, she had to give up her career, and learn to walk and talk and live a some what normal life! I know how hard it is for all of your family God speed!
Best of luck for continued recovery Gabby. You are and will always be an inspiration to all. The fact that you survived this horrible attack is remarkable but also sad that a promising politician was stopped by a lunatic. I am sure that you will either be back in Congress in the future or serving the country in some other capacity. Godspeed to you and Mark
She WILL return , you can count on that!
You are an inspiration, we need more in Washington like you, good luck Gabby. We look forward to your return!
Bill-697115, Earl Smith banned, deathwishing Giffords and all of DC/Congress/Senate, respectively. Don't.
What a remarkable woman! Her strength and resilience can be an example for us all! This great nation needs many more like her, a true patriot and great American! G-d bless you and a speedy recovery
You have earned our respect and admiration for your strength and tenacity. We need more people like you serving our country - MANY more. Take your time, heal, and hopefully you will be back. Godspeed.
I wish her the best.
This whole incident shows that the House is really a joke. One seat doesn't matter (her district has not been represented for the most part since she was shot.) House is a launching pad for Senate. About 20 politricksters ("leadership") control the whole agenda of America, which is why the Repubelickin party has been able to interfere with all attempts at improving the economy.
The Senate is also a joke when 1 Senator are able to block an up or down vote by filing a paper (aka fillibuster,) until 60 Senators vote to proceed.
I actually think she would do a better job now... Politicians aren't very sincere people, she seems like she has the wonderment of a young child now.. Doing things from the heart is better than the political BS we have from the people in office..
I hope the very best for Mrs. Giffords..
God Bless you Gabby, I'm actually crying a bit to see you leaving but we love you and know you WILL be back. We'll pray for you!! :-)
As for Devil, back to hell you brainless f*ck!!
Health has to come first. I wish her well
She is still a beautiful lady. I wish her the best! She has come so far in recovery.
Good use of grammar in the English language MSNBC. Wow your reporting skills continue to impress me.
Gabrielle will return. Gabrielle, thank you for inspiring all of us.
I wonder how much outrage there's going to be when the AZ Governor appoints a Republican to her seat for the rest of her term.
Because of what happened to her; it is suicide it seems to be hard on her when offering an opinion concerning her politics. Many people loved her politics; many hated them. She is certainly not universally a hero concerning politics, and the ordeal she has gone though should (also) not be made to inflate that political legacy. Regardless, she should be a hero to all concerning her will to overcome; at being human...
People who are unable to serve should be removed from office after missing "X" number of sessions. This is not a reflection on Giffords or her circumstances, just that we need a law to cover what is acceptable for an elected official. Right now a person could be elected and never show up in Washington at all if they choose to do so. Outside of a recall there is no recourse. She made the right decision. Try to get yourself healed and then make another run for it.
Lots of voters seem to want it that way. Look how many terms that former Jim Crow-segregationists Strom Thurmond and Robert Byrd represented South Carolina and West Virginia in the Senate, even after they hardly knew were they were (saw this first-hand in the case of Thurmond). I would say that Rep. Giffords has more mental capacity right now then they did in their late eighties. Even when they were able to "show up" it was about all that they could do. The House is just two years at a time, so I don't think that throwing people out of it is all that necessary. If they aren't able, they'll be gone soon enough or the voters will just put them back in regardless. She's showing lots of courage here IMO. I don't think too many people (other than yourself, apparently) would've said too much if she had served out her term until about this time next year.