OH, ANOTHER JERK, AND THIS ONE'S OURS – AT 6:30 P.M. ET:  From The New York Times:

Representative Chris Lee of New York, caught in the midst of a scandal involving a shirtless photo he reportedly sent to a woman on the Internet, has stepped down, according to a senior Congressional official.

Mr. Lee, a Republican, notified the Republican Speaker of the House of his decision in a letter he sent this afternoon after the scandal erupted.

Mr. Lee’s office released a statement late Wednesday in which the he asks for forgiveness. “I regret the harm that my actions have caused my family, my staff and my constituents,’’ he said. “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.’’

Mr. Lee won his district, located in the western New York region, in 2008, when he ran in place of Thomas Reynolds, who announced his retirement.

COMMENT:  Look, it's New York.  He'll probably get a talk show and a book contract.  But for the rest of us, it's embarrassing.

Oh, you know, I just thought of something:  I wonder if this story will be covered on Parker/Spitzer at CNN tonight.  Eliot Spitzer, the co-host, was governor of New York, and, as you no doubt recall, had to resign in a prostitution scandal.  I'd love to see how he covers, or uncovers, this.

February 9, 2011