Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) confirmed Friday that she will retire from Congress, just days after denying Axios' reporting that she had told allies she wouldn't seek another term.

Why it matters: The 83-year-old had been under considerable pressure not to run for reelection after missing weeks of House votes, as she recovered from a major eye surgery.

She initially denied to local allies that she would step aside, but last Saturday she reversed course and told multiple elected officials in her district that she would indeed retire, as Axios first reported.

Wilson, in a statement to Axios later on Saturday, said: "It's a crazy rumor. A crazy crazy rumor. I'm almost distraught. It's not true.…