Representative Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona has announced that she will be stepping down from her House seat to further recover from last January's assassination attempt, The Guardian reports.
Giffords was shot in the head at point blank range just over a year ago in a rampage that claimed the lives of six and injured 12 more. Since then she has been slowly recovering her speech and motor skills, as questions of her status in congress loomed.
On Sunday, in a video message the congresswoman announced that she will resign from her seat this week.
In the video Giffords said, "I don't remember much from that horrible day, but I will never forget the trust you placed in me to be your voice."
Arizona Democratic Party official Jim Woodbrey told the Associated Press "It was Gabby's individual decision, and she was not in any condition to make that decision five months ago."
As required by law, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer will hold a special primary in April and a general election in June to fill the remainder of Gifford's term, which ends this year.
Although Giffords' supporters had hoped that she would be sufficiently recovered to seek reelection in November or even make a run for Senate, she assures her constituents in the video address that she will eventually return to politics.
"I'm getting better. Every day my spirit is high. I will return, and we will work together for Arizona, and for this great country," she said.
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