Anthony Weiner Photos Fallout: House Democrats Hope Scandal-Plagued Congressman Will Resign

(AP) WASHINGTON -- House Democratic colleagues of scandal-scarred Rep. Anthony Weiner are looking for him to step down this week amid a growing chorus for him to resign. Even President Barack Obama has suggested he should leave.

Adding to the drama, Weiner's pregnant wife, Huma Abedin, returned Wednesday from a trip to Africa with her boss, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

And Ginger Lee, a former porn actress who says she exchanged emails and tweets with Weiner, is speaking out for the first time about it. She has scheduled a news conference for Wednesday afternoon in New York with celebrity attorney Gloria Allred.

TMZ.com has published messages it says Weiner sent to Lee offering advice on how to mislead the press about their relationship. In an interview two weeks ago, he acknowledged that he had exchanged messages with Lee but didn't elaborate.

Weiner is on a temporary leave of absence from Congress, in treatment for an undisclosed disorder at an undisclosed location. He has acknowledged exchanging messages and photos, which ranged from sexually suggestive to explicit, with several women online.

A fellow member of Weiner's New York Democratic delegation, Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, said she's heard from Weiner's friends that the congressman was waiting for his wife to come home before making any decisions about his political future. McCarthy also cited talk among Weiner's friends about the possibility he could resign this week.

House Democrats huddled behind closed doors Tuesday for their regular party meeting, but they decided against taking action against Weiner in hopes that he'll resign soon.

The House Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi, reiterated her call for Weiner to quit, saying after the meeting that she wanted to make sure nobody missed her earlier resignation call while members were on a weeklong recess.

Rep. Sander Levin, D-Mich., said: "I think we should send a strong message to him that he should resign, and let's see what happens. The more of us who say it, the more telling it will be."

House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican, had been content to let Democrats wrestle with the embarrassing scandal, but when asked Tuesday whether Weiner should resign, he responded, "Yes."

The furor over sexually suggestive photos and other revelations about the 46-year-old congressman has been a distraction for Democrats seeking momentum as they gear up for the 2012 elections. Besides Pelosi, several other Democrats have called for Weiner to quit, including the party chairwoman, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla.

Comments

[intellectualTradition]

01:12 PM on 06/17/2011

that is one goofy creepy looking guy

[montanason]

07:45 PM on 06/15/2011

A sad commentary that as you look at other boards you can't help but to
be struck by what has become an almost singular characteristic of any
parties faithful-that is to go to the absurd level of defending the perp as
the victim and to throw personal credibility under the bus to excuse or
make inane comparisons-as though if something of greater, lesser,or equal
offense has been done before it grants absolution.

[Konrad Klean]

11:19 PM on 06/15/2011

You're actually ignorant enough to sit by and criticize this man while sexual predators and criminals remain in the senate? Try to familiarize yourself with the term "Standards". Last I checked they are held equally to all. If Weiner goes then Vitter should be in prison for his failure to abide by the law.

When something of greater seriousness has been allowed to slide in the past it DOES grant absolution.

[000005]

12:58 AM on 06/16/2011

You lack logic my friend.

[queeraz]

02:03 PM on 06/15/2011

It's clear to me that what must now happen is a complete investigation into EVERY Congressional person's personal life. All computers and phone records must be made available for public viewing. No exceptions.

[Steve1961]

12:10 PM on 06/15/2011

He's gone, ya know? Don't kid yourselves. And after this porn star thing? Wow - his poor wife. Even though they won't be working in the same industry anymore, she'll still be tied to him through their kid. I'm assuming she'll keep it. I don't know a thing about her, so I don't know if she'll kill their baby before it gets too far along. Damned if she does, damned if she don't.

Shame she just can't divorce the guy and wash her hands of him.

And there are still those of you that respect him and will continue defending him. That's what's really astounding.

[LiveTheSheenDream]

08:53 PM on 06/15/2011

In the photo Weiner sent of his waxed chest you can see a framed picture in the background of his wife posing with the Clintons. That's right, I thought the same thing - family values liberal style.

LOL! You can't make this stuff up!

[Konrad Klean]

11:20 PM on 06/15/2011

How much are you getting paid and by whom?

[mykittywinks]

09:35 AM on 06/15/2011

I hope Weiner stickes it out I am enjoying the show. Nancy Peloci's culture of corruption statement of 2007 is coming back to bite her boney butt.

[mp60mp32]

01:55 PM on 06/15/2011

That comment was aimed at financial corruption, not personal indiscretion.

[michaelcheek]

09:05 AM on 06/15/2011

While his popularity wanes on Capitol Hill, Rep. Anthony Weiner's Twitter account only continues to grow in popularity, now surpassing 80,000 followers (see http://mykl.co/kQLus6). He's got even more followers than Rep. Gabrielle "Gabby" Giffords, the Congresswoman shot and almost killed in Tuscon, AZ, in January.

Moreover, if you analyze his Twitter account closely (something I think the media has neglected to do adequately), you find he follows almost twice as many men as women and, interestingly enough, he likely took over his account from his staff in late April to manage it himself (see http://mykl.co/mgjFZu).

[Steve1961]

12:15 PM on 06/15/2011

People like a train wreck. This would be one heckuva entertaining catastrophe if it wasn't for the hurt, shame, and humiliation he caused for his wife and maybe soon to be son/daughter. That really takes the enjoyment out of it for me. So given that, this whole thing just makes me sick.

[Konrad Klean]

11:22 PM on 06/15/2011

The humiliation was brought about by the conglomerate media machine which blew this entire issue far out of proportion and by the paid astro turf net-riders who post their bosses opinions as their own. Hoping to somehow change the tide of the public opinion.

[Amy Lindelof]

08:27 AM on 06/15/2011

This has been a sad and strange unfolding of events. My 8 year old son has seen this on the evening news for a few weeks. He keeps calling his sister "Anthony Weiner."