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The Republican congressman was the center of attention as a Gawker story said he was meeting women on Craigslist under the name Christopher Lee, self-described as “divorced,” “lobbyist,” and a “fit fun class guy.” 

The online gossip site posted a shirtless photo of Lee he'd sent to a woman he’d supposedly met through the online site on Wednesday morning, prompting Lee’s resignation. 

“I regret the harm that my actions have caused my family, my staff and my constituents,” Lee said in a statement. “I deeply and sincerely apologize to them all. I have made profound mistakes and I promise to work as hard as I can to seek their forgiveness.” 

The woman is described as a 34-year-old Maryland government employee who had posted an ad on Jan. 14 on the Craigslist “Women for Men” forum.  Lee reportedly sent the woman two photos of himself.

After the woman learned of Lee’s actual identity as a 46-year-old Congressman, she sent the photos to Gawker. 

Lee was first elected to Congress as the representative of the 26th district of New York in 2008 and re-elected in 2010. He is married and has a son.