Weiner puts an end to underpants controversy
Source: Agencies |
June 18, 2011, Saturday
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ANTHONY Weiner, the New York congressman ensnared in a humiliating flap for sending lewd photos of himself to women online, has resigned.
"I had hoped to be able to continue the work that the citizens of my district had elected me to do, to fight for the middle class and those struggling to make it," Weiner told reporters in Brooklyn on Thursday at the seniors' center where he first announced plans to run for New York City Council 20 years ago.
"Unfortunately, the distraction that I have created has made that impossible, so today I am announcing my resignation from Congress."
Once a rising star among Democrats and widely expected to run for New York mayor, Weiner made his announcement alone, his wife absent.
Weiner, 46, represented parts of New York City in the House of Representatives since his first election in 1998. He had established himself as a leading liberal voice there and easily won a seventh two-year term last November.
Under pressure from President Barack Obama and both major political parties, Weiner previously insisted he would seek treatment and take a short leave of absence.
"Obviously, it's been a tough incident for him," Obama said in an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America" which was due to air yesterday. "But I'm confident that they'll refocus and he'll refocus, and they'll end up being able to bounce back."
Democrats feared Weiner had become a political liability in their efforts to win back the House from Republicans in next year's elections.
Elizabeth Viggiano, a 62-year-old senior at the center, said: "It's heartbreaking. He got caught with his pants down."
Robert Kolowaski, 56, called his actions victimless. "He was very feisty," he said. "He stood up for the people."
Weiner is the third member of Congress to step down this year in sex scandals. Republican John Ensign of Nevada quit after an extramarital affair and Republican Chris Lee of New York quit after sending a shirtless photo of himself to a woman he met online.
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said: "Congressman Weiner exercised poor judgment in his actions and poor judgment in his reaction to the revelations. Today, he made the right judgment in resigning."
Ironically, for someone who used social media to boost his political brand, Weiner's fall was prompted when he accidentally posted, via Twitter, a close-up of his bulging underpants.
Weiner denied for more than a week that he sent a photo of himself in boxer briefs to a woman in Seattle on May 28, claiming his Twitter account had been hacked. But on June 6, he admitted he had lied and had inappropriate exchanges with six women.
"I had hoped to be able to continue the work that the citizens of my district had elected me to do, to fight for the middle class and those struggling to make it," Weiner told reporters in Brooklyn on Thursday at the seniors' center where he first announced plans to run for New York City Council 20 years ago.
"Unfortunately, the distraction that I have created has made that impossible, so today I am announcing my resignation from Congress."
Once a rising star among Democrats and widely expected to run for New York mayor, Weiner made his announcement alone, his wife absent.
Weiner, 46, represented parts of New York City in the House of Representatives since his first election in 1998. He had established himself as a leading liberal voice there and easily won a seventh two-year term last November.
Under pressure from President Barack Obama and both major political parties, Weiner previously insisted he would seek treatment and take a short leave of absence.
"Obviously, it's been a tough incident for him," Obama said in an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America" which was due to air yesterday. "But I'm confident that they'll refocus and he'll refocus, and they'll end up being able to bounce back."
Democrats feared Weiner had become a political liability in their efforts to win back the House from Republicans in next year's elections.
Elizabeth Viggiano, a 62-year-old senior at the center, said: "It's heartbreaking. He got caught with his pants down."
Robert Kolowaski, 56, called his actions victimless. "He was very feisty," he said. "He stood up for the people."
Weiner is the third member of Congress to step down this year in sex scandals. Republican John Ensign of Nevada quit after an extramarital affair and Republican Chris Lee of New York quit after sending a shirtless photo of himself to a woman he met online.
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said: "Congressman Weiner exercised poor judgment in his actions and poor judgment in his reaction to the revelations. Today, he made the right judgment in resigning."
Ironically, for someone who used social media to boost his political brand, Weiner's fall was prompted when he accidentally posted, via Twitter, a close-up of his bulging underpants.
Weiner denied for more than a week that he sent a photo of himself in boxer briefs to a woman in Seattle on May 28, claiming his Twitter account had been hacked. But on June 6, he admitted he had lied and had inappropriate exchanges with six women.
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