The much anticipated resignation of troubled 13th district congressman Vito Fossella could come some time within the next 72 hours – reports MSNBC.

According to New York political reporter Jay DeDapper, the state’s top Republicans — who believe the resignation could come as early as Friday (Monday the latest) — weighed how best to preserve the House seat, in the face of a growing Democratic lead.

State Republicans believe nothing could be gained by Fossella remaining in his seat, and want Fossella gone ‘ASAP’ to make way for a special election with a strong candidate for the upcoming fall election against Democrat Steve Harrison – while Staten Island Republicans felt Fossella should at least be allowed to serve out the remainder of his term.

Fossella’s hometown paper, the Staten Island Advance, called for Fossella’s swift resignation following the DUI arrest, which lead to a series of scintillating revelations involving a double life led with an ex-congressional Air Force liaison in Virginia, with whom the Staten Island congressman fathered a 3-year-old daughter.

photo courtesy: Daily News