House accepts Indiana Rep. Mark Souder’s resignation, ending more than 15 years in Congress

House accepts Rep. Souder’s resignation from seat

WASHINGTON — Indiana Rep. Mark Souder’s time as a member of Congress is over after more than 15 years.

Souder’s two-sentence resignation letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi was read into the House record on Thursday. The letter says he is resigning effective Friday and that it was “an honor and a privilege to serve the people of Indiana.”

Souder (SOW-der) admitted Tuesday to an extramarital affair with a female staffer and said that he would leave the seat representing northeastern Indiana that the Republican was first elected to in 1994.

His congressional staff will remain in their jobs, reporting to the House clerk until a new representative is elected. A date for a special election to complete Souder’s term hasn’t been set.