Rep. Anthony Weiner formally submitted his resignation to New York officials Monday, a key step in bringing the sex scandal that drove him out of office to a close.

Because the letter was submitted after the House’s pro forma session ended Monday, the earliest his resignation could be formally accepted is noon Tuesday.

Weiner announced Thursday that he would resign after top Democrats repeatedly demanded he step down over his string of explicit online relationships, which drew attention away from the Democratic agenda. The firebrand liberal quickly left New York City after his announcement, but rather than immediately submit his resignation Thursday, he waited until Monday.

In the letter to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) and Secretary of State Cesar Perales, Weiner wrote that his resignation is effective as of midnight Tuesday. Tom Connolly of the New York Board of Elections said last week that a special election to fill the 9th district seat could take place in about three months at the earliest.

Democrats had hoped to quickly wrap up the resignation before the week’s work in the House begins in earnest Tuesday evening.