Gabrielle Giffords resigns amid bipartisan House tribute

It was an emotional morning in Congress Wednesday as Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) officially resigned her seat in Congress to focus on her continued recovery from being shot in the head at a Jan. 8, 2011 town hall event in Tucson, Ariz.

After moving and often tearful tributes and exchanges with lawmakers from both parties, Giffords was escorted to the well by friend and colleague Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), who broke down as she read a statement prepared by Giffords regarding her decision to resign.