In a little over a week, congressman Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) has gone from a rising progressive star to a man clinging to hopes of a political future.
The seeds of Weiner's demise were sown in mid-May, when a woman reached out to Big Government's Andrew Breitbart and told him about her online affair with the congressman.
Scroll through the photos below to see how the scandal unfolded:
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May 20, 2011
Andrew Breitbart is <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/07/nyregion/andrew-breitbart-a-blogger-looks-for-legitimacy.html" target="_hplink">contacted by Meagan Broussard</a>, who tells him she's been having an intimate online relationship with Weiner.
May 27, 2011
Weiner's Twitter account tweets <a href="http://bigjournalism.com/files/2011/05/Screen-shot-2011-05-27-at-11.04.09-PM.png" target="_hplink">a photo</a> of a man's bulging underpants. The post is quickly deleted, but a person tweeting under the name Dan Wolfe re-tweets it before it can be taken down.
May 28, 2011
Breitbart's site, Big Government, <a href="http://biggovernment.com/publius/2011/05/28/weinergate-congressman-claims-facebook-hacked-as-lewd-photo-hits-twitter/" target="_hplink">publishes a story</a> about the tweet. It mentions that the intended recipient of the message is a woman from Seattle.
May 29, 2011
The <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/29/anthony-weiner-twitter-hacked_n_868614.html" target="_hplink">AP reports</a> that Weiner and his spokespeople claim the congressman's Twitter account was hacked.
May 31, 2011
Weiner <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/31/anthony-weiner-twitter_n_868981.html" target="_hplink">hires a lawyer</a> to advise him on what civil or criminal actions should be taken with regards to the hacking of his account. The congressman is combative with reporters who ask him about the tweet. He says he does not want to get law enforcement involved because it would be a waste of taxpayer dollars.
June 1, 2011
Weiner seeks to <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/01/anthony-weiner-twitter-photo_n_870092.html" target="_hplink">do damage control</a> by speaking more in depth with members of the press about the burgeoning controversy. He says he's hired an Internet security firm "to take a hard look at this to come up with a conclusion about what happened and to make sure it doesn't happen again." He also says he can't say <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/02/anthony-weiner-awkward-moments_n_870306.html" target="_hplink">"with certitude"</a> whether or not the picture of a man's crotch is his.
Morning June 6, 2011
Breitbart publishes a <a href="http://bigjournalism.com/abreitbart/2011/06/06/weinergate-bombshell-new-woman-comes-forward-claiming-cache-of-intimate-photos-and-online-communications-with-beleaguered-congressman/" target="_hplink">post on Big Government</a> that claims a new woman has come forward alleging that she engaged in "an online, consensual relationship involving the mutual exchange of intimate photographs." Big Government also publishes <a href="http://biggovernment.com/abreitbart/2011/06/06/deja-vu-another-congressman-bares-naked-torso-and-more-for-online-pal/#more-279716" target="_hplink">several other photos</a> of Weiner, including one of him shirtless.
Afternoon June 6, 2011
Weiner calls a press conference for 4 p.m.
2:30 p.m. June 6, 2011
Meagan Broussard speaks out about the scandal. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/07/meagan-broussard-anthony-weiner_n_872368.html" target="_hplink">She says she exchanged</a> dozens of sexually charged photos, emails, and Facebook messages with Weiner over the course of a month.
4 p.m. June 6, 2011
Before Weiner enters, Breitbart <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/06/andrew-breitbart-hijacks-_n_872066.html" target="_hplink">speaks at the press conference</a>, taking questions from reporters. He says he's there to "be vindicated."
4:30 p.m. June 6, 2011
A <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/06/anthony-weiner-press-conference-pictures-photos_n_872108.html" target="_hplink">tearful Weiner admits</a> that he sent the Twitter photo that began the controversy. He also says he's engaged in online relationships with six women, some of which took place during his one-year-old marriage. He says he's "deeply ashamed" of his actions and apologizes to everyone he's lied to, especially his wife, Huma Abedin. He also apologizes to Breitbart. He insists he will not resign, and says he's confident he has not broken his oath of office.
Evening June 6, 2011
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/06/anthony-weiner-ethics-investigation-nancy-pelosi_n_872153.html" target="_hplink">calls for an ethics investigation</a> following Weiner's admission. The probe seeks to determine whether "any official resources were used or any other violation of House rules occurred," Pelosi says. Weiner announces he will fully cooperate with the investigation.
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First Posted: 06/07/11 04:24 PM ET Updated: 08/07/11 06:12 AM ET