Embattled New York Congressman Anthony Weiner has decided to give up his fight to stay in Congress, according to reports:

Representative Anthony D. Weiner has told friends that he plans to resign his seat after coming under growing pressure from his Democratic colleagues to leave the House, said a person told of Mr. Weiner’s plans.

His decision follows of revelations of his lewd online exchanges with women, said a person told of Mr. Weiner’s plans.

The news comes as Democratic leaders prepared to hold a meeting on Thursday to discuss whether to strip the 46-year-old Congressman of his committee assignments, a blow which would severely damage his effectiveness.

Mr. Weiner, a Democrat, came to the conclusion that he could no longer serve after having long discussions with his wife, Huma Abedin, when she returned home on Tuesday after traveling abroad with her boss, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The question now will be who emerges from his Queens and Brooklyn district to replace him. There have been rumblings of a serious Republican challenge, perhaps from 26-year-old City Councilman Eric Ulrich, despite the district’s Democratic tendencies. [NYT]