Scandal-scarred Rep. Anthony Weiner resigned his seat from the U.S. House on Thursday ending a once-promising political career after his sexually-charged online behavior was exposed.
Today I am announcing my resignation from Congress so my colleagues can get back to work my neighbors can choose a new representative and most importantly that my wife and I can continue to deal with the damage I have caused he said at a news conference in Sheepshead Bay Brooklyn. His announcement was met by some cheers and heckling in the packed room.
Weiner now joins a long list of U.S. lawmakers who have resigned over sex scandals including Rep. Chris Lee R-N.Y. Eric Massa D-N.Y. and Sen. John Ensign R-Nev.
For nearly three weeks Weiner has been embroiled in a scandal over lewd pictures and messages that he sent to at least six women on Twitter and Facebook over a three-year period.
Weiner tried to quell the growing furor over the scandal by taking a two-week leave from the House on Monday to seek treatment at an undisclosed location. But a revolt from Democratic leaders only grew stronger as they had planned to meet Thursday to consider whether to strip Weiner of his role on the Energy and Commerce Committee before he resigned.
House Speaker John Boehner said he had not yet received a resignation letter early Thursday but it could be read on the House floor after Weiner does submit it. A resignation would initiate a special election in New York -- a scenario that would favor Democrats.
Before Weiners press conference Rep. Nita Lowey D-New York offered Weiner words of encouragement.
There is life after Congress for Anthony Weiner and I hope he devotes himself to repairing the damage he caused to his personal life she said.
Rep. Peter King R-N.Y. said its unfortunate that Weiner has chosen to resign as he was a dedicated member even though the two lawmakers had their policy differences.
He added though it would have been impossible for Weiner to continue on the Hill.
He would have been a dead man walking King said.
The House Ethics Committee on Monday began a preliminary inquiry that could have bloomed into a full investigation if Weiner had continued to ignore calls to resign.
Weiner has told friends he wanted to speak with his pregnant wife Huma Abedin before deciding whether to resign. She returned to Washington early Wednesday from a trip to Africa with her boss Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Weiners resignation came after the scandal grew even stranger when a former porn actress who exchanged emails and messages with the congressman said Wednesday he asked her to lie about their interactions.
Porn star Ginger Lee said Wednesday that Weiner asked her to lie about their online relationship and he should resign.
I think Anthony Weiner should resign because he lied to the public and the press for more than a week Lee said describing a phone conversation that took place on June 2 in which the two spoke.
It might never have turned into this if he had told the truth but he kept lying Lee said during a news conference in New York with her attorney Gloria Allred.
Lee from La Vergne Tenn. said she and Weiner exchanged about 100 emails between March and June after Lee posted a supportive statement about the congressman on her blog. In several situations Lee said Weiner turned the conversation toward sex.
I have wardrobe demands too. I need to highlight my package Weiner wrote Lee in an email read aloud at the news conference by Allred.
Fox News Jana Winter contributed to this report.
Scandal-scarred Rep. Anthony Weiner resigned his seat from the U.S. House on Thursday ending a once-promising political career after his sexually-charged online behavior was exposed.
Today I am announcing my resignation from Congress so my colleagues can get back to work my neighbors can choose a new representative and most importantly that my wife and I can continue to deal with the damage I have caused he said at a news conference in Sheepshead Bay Brooklyn. His announcement was met by some cheers and heckling in the packed room.
Weiner now joins a long list of U.S. lawmakers who have resigned over sex scandals including Rep. Chris Lee R-N.Y. Eric Massa D-N.Y. and Sen. John Ensign R-Nev.
For nearly three weeks Weiner has been embroiled in a scandal over lewd pictures and messages that he sent to at least six women on Twitter and Facebook over a three-year period.
Weiner tried to quell the growing furor over the scandal by taking a two-week leave from the House on Monday to seek treatment at an undisclosed location. But a revolt from Democratic leaders only grew stronger as they had planned to meet Thursday to consider whether to strip Weiner of his role on the Energy and Commerce Committee before he resigned.
House Speaker John Boehner said he had not yet received a resignation letter early Thursday but it could be read on the House floor after Weiner does submit it. A resignation would initiate a special election in New York -- a scenario that would favor Democrats.
Before Weiners press conference Rep. Nita Lowey D-New York offered Weiner words of encouragement.
There is life after Congress for Anthony Weiner and I hope he devotes himself to repairing the damage he caused to his personal life she said.
Rep. Peter King R-N.Y. said its unfortunate that Weiner has chosen to resign as he was a dedicated member even though the two lawmakers had their policy differences.
He added though it would have been impossible for Weiner to continue on the Hill.
He would have been a dead man walking King said.
The House Ethics Committee on Monday began a preliminary inquiry that could have bloomed into a full investigation if Weiner had continued to ignore calls to resign.
Weiner has told friends he wanted to speak with his pregnant wife Huma Abedin before deciding whether to resign. She returned to Washington early Wednesday from a trip to Africa with her boss Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Weiners resignation came after the scandal grew even stranger when a former porn actress who exchanged emails and messages with the congressman said Wednesday he asked her to lie about their interactions.
Porn star Ginger Lee said Wednesday that Weiner asked her to lie about their online relationship and he should resign.
I think Anthony Weiner should resign because he lied to the public and the press for more than a week Lee said describing a phone conversation that took place on June 2 in which the two spoke.
It might never have turned into this if he had told the truth but he kept lying Lee said during a news conference in New York with her attorney Gloria Allred.
Lee from La Vergne Tenn. said she and Weiner exchanged about 100 emails between March and June after Lee posted a supportive statement about the congressman on her blog. In several situations Lee said Weiner turned the conversation toward sex.
I have wardrobe demands too. I need to highlight my package Weiner wrote Lee in an email read aloud at the news conference by Allred.
Fox News Jana Winter contributed to this report.
