Weiner told Pelosi, friends he will resign
Source: Agencies |
June 17, 2011, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
US Representative Anthony Weiner, embroiled in a sex scandal for sending lewd photos of himself to women over the Internet, has told House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi he will resign from Congress, a party source said yesterday.
The New York Democrat would become the third member of the US Congress this year to step down because of a sex scandal. Weiner was scheduled to hold a news conference in New York late yesterday, NBC News reported.
Under pressure from President Barack Obama and both major political parties, Weiner had previously insisted on staying in his job, announcing instead that he would seek treatment and take a "short leave" of absence from the House.
But Weiner, 46, reached the decision to resign after speaking with his wife, Huma Abedin, 35, an aide to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who returned from an overseas trip on Tuesday, The New York Times reported, citing people told of Weiner's plans.
Weiner told Pelosi on Wednesday night he intends to resign, a Democratic source told Reuters. "He told Pelosi last night," the source said.
Republicans and top Democrats had called for him to resign, saying the scandal had become a distraction on Capitol Hill.
Democrats feared that Weiner had become a political liability to their efforts to win back the House from Republicans in next year's elections. Weiner also had been seen as a strong contender for New York mayor in 2013.
Obama ramped up pressure on Weiner to resign on June 14, telling NBC News, "He's embarrassed his wife and his family .... If it was me, I would resign."
While the scandal made headlines, Democrats would likely be favored to retain Weiner's House seat, which would be filled in a special election. He was re-elected to a seventh term last year.
The New York Democrat would become the third member of the US Congress this year to step down because of a sex scandal. Weiner was scheduled to hold a news conference in New York late yesterday, NBC News reported.
Under pressure from President Barack Obama and both major political parties, Weiner had previously insisted on staying in his job, announcing instead that he would seek treatment and take a "short leave" of absence from the House.
But Weiner, 46, reached the decision to resign after speaking with his wife, Huma Abedin, 35, an aide to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who returned from an overseas trip on Tuesday, The New York Times reported, citing people told of Weiner's plans.
Weiner told Pelosi on Wednesday night he intends to resign, a Democratic source told Reuters. "He told Pelosi last night," the source said.
Republicans and top Democrats had called for him to resign, saying the scandal had become a distraction on Capitol Hill.
Democrats feared that Weiner had become a political liability to their efforts to win back the House from Republicans in next year's elections. Weiner also had been seen as a strong contender for New York mayor in 2013.
Obama ramped up pressure on Weiner to resign on June 14, telling NBC News, "He's embarrassed his wife and his family .... If it was me, I would resign."
While the scandal made headlines, Democrats would likely be favored to retain Weiner's House seat, which would be filled in a special election. He was re-elected to a seventh term last year.
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