Mississippi Republican Trent Lott officially resigned from the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, ending a 35-year career in which he reached the of height of power before falling from grace and climbing his way back to the top, a spokesman said.
“U.S. Sen. Trent Lott has informed Vice President Dick Chaney, the president of the U.S. Senate, that he is retiring as the U.S. Senator for the state of Mississippi effective on the close of the Senate’s business today, Tuesday Dec. 18, 2007,” Youngblood said.
Youngblood announced the resignation about 10:45 p.m. CDT. He said the resignation came so late because Lott had to resign the day before the Senate recesses, likely Wednesday, but he wanted to vote on important bills that were being considered well into the night.