State Rep. George Wilber, D-Colebrook, who admitted to paying a woman $100,000 in hush money for allegedly sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl, has told the Hartford Courant he will resign his seat in the Legislature.

Wilber told the Courant Monday night he was resigning for “health reasons” but didn’t elaborate.

This does not close the book on this sordid tale since the House Democrats today made the astonishing disclosure that their officers were briefed on the allegations in 2004. Then Speaker Moira Lyons and Majority Leader Jim Amann did not see enough evidence to prevent them from heavily funding both of Wilber’s subsequent reelection bids in 2004 and 2006 through the House Democatic Majority Fund.

Wilber, a former Agriculture Commissioner under Ella Grasso, is a former First Selectman in Colebrook. He owns a dairy farm in his native town and had to mortgage a part of its value to come up with the $100,000 payment to an unidentified woman. According to published reports in the Register-Citizen and Waterbury Republican, the woman accused Wilber of sexual assaulting her from age 11 to 18 in the 1970’s.  In 2005, Wilber aknowledged making a $100,000 payment but denied anything improper.

Amann told the AP today the entire matter was “political” but didn’t explain why his caucus did not feel the charges were significant in 2004 or took action after the 2005 settlement.

Update 10/21: The Courant piece is here.