Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012 | 11:24 a.m.
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz.
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona says on her Facebook page she intends to resign from Congress this week to concentrate on recovering from wounds suffered in an assassination attempt a little more than a year ago.
According to officials in Washington, her resignation is expected to take effect on Monday.
The Democratic congresswoman was shot in the head last January as she was meeting with constituents outside a supermarket in Tucson, Ariz. While her recovery has seemed remarkable, she says on Facebook she has more work to do to recover, and it is best from her state if she resigns her seat in the House.
Her shooting prompted an agonizing national debate about super-charged rhetoric in political campaigns.
In a video posted on her Facebook page Sunday, Giffords announces she will resign from Congress by saying:
"Arizona is my home. Always will be.
"A lot has happened over the past year. We cannot change that, but I know on the issues we fought for, we can change things for the better: jobs, border security, veterans. We can do so much more by working together.
"I don't remember much from that horrible day, but I will never forget the trust you placed in me to be your voice.
"Thank you for your prayers and for giving me time to recover. I have more work to do on my recovery. So to do what's best for Arizona, I will step down this week. I'm getting better. Every day my spirit is high. I will return, and we will work together for Arizona and this great country.
"Thank you very much."
