Indicted Republican Michael Grimm to leave House financial services panel

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican Representative Michael Grimm, who was indicted Monday on fraud charges, said he was stepping down from the House of Representatives Financial Services Committee.

In a letter to House Speaker John Boehner, the New York congressman said he was asking to be removed from the committee "in light of recent events." He added that "upon a successful resolution of pending legal matters my intention is to resume said position as an active member of the committee."

A spokesman for Boehner said the speaker "believes Rep. Grimm's decision is appropriate under the circumstances."

(Reporting by Thomas Ferraro; Editing by Peter Cooney)

[Image: U.S. Representative Michael Grimm (R-NY) speaks at a news conference outside the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse in the Brooklyn Borough of New York April 28, 2014. By Brendan McDermid for Reuters.]