Anthony Weiner to Step Down as NY Congressman
Rep. Anthony Weiner, the embattled New York congressman who has been embroiled in controversy for sending inappropriate images and text messages to women, is expected to resign this afternoon, say sources close to Weiner.
Weiner has scheduled a 2 p.m. ET press conference in New York. It is reported that the Queen’s congressman has spoken to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and fellow New York Congressman and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel and informed both of his decision.
The story first broke three weeks ago when Weiner reported someone had hacked into this Twitter account and sent inappropriate images of him to a female college student. After holding a press conference last week, he admitted to sending images and text messages to at least six women on Facebook and Twitter over a three-year period.
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Democrat leaders are scheduled to meet later today to discuss whether to remove Weiner from his coveted role on the Energy and Commerce Committee. Staffers for House Speaker John Boehner are saying they have not yet received a resignation letter from Rep. Weiner. If he does resign today, he must also send a letter to the New York Secretary of State.
Weiner had told friends he was waiting on his wife Huma to return from a trip with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton before making a decision about his future. She returned early Wednesday morning. On Monday, he requested a leave from his congressional duties in order to “seek treatment” at an undisclosed location.
Yesterday, the scandal took another twist when porn star Ginger Lee said Weiner asked her to lie about their online relationship, saying he could resign.
“I think Anthony Weiner should resign because he lied to the public and the press for more than a week,” said Lee at a New York news conference with noted celebrity attorney, Gloria Allred.
