Congressman David Wu at Center of Sex Accusation
Oregon Congressman David Wu’s problems may only get worse.
Over the weekend, information leaked out that the seven-term House member Wu engaged in a sexual relationship with a friend and campaign donor’s 18-year old daughter. The young woman called the congressman’s Portland office in May and left a voice message, accusing Wu of “aggressive and unwanted sexual behavior.” Wu admitted to his staff he had sex with the young woman but said the act was consensual.
Wu had multiple conversations with Democrat House leaders over the weekend, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. Instead of publicly asking Wu to immediately resign, Pelosi instead called on the Ethics Committee to investigate the allegations against him.
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“I call on the Ethics Committee to initiate an investigation into the allegations against Congressman Wu,” Pelosi said in her statement on Sunday. “With deep disappointment and sadness about this situation, I hope that the Ethics Committee will take up this matter.”
Democratic insiders close to Pelosi and other House leaders have told Wu in no uncertain terms “that he has not support” from his colleagues or party leaders and they would like to see him resign as soon as possible.
A Wu adviser, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told POLITICO on Sunday, “He isn’t going to be running for reelection. But he hasn’t done anything that rises to the level of requiring him to resign.”
But others disagree.
State Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian had already declared his intentions to run against Wu in the 2012 Democratic primary prior to the recent allegations.
“I think any 56-year-old man, especially a 56-year-old Congressman that asserts himself like this on an 18-year-old girl has got no business serving in Congress,” Avakian told Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Rep. Brat Witt (D-Clatskanie) who is also an announced candidate told The Oregonian, “Will he be at all effective? That’s very much the question.”
Another Democrat legislator, Rep. Jeff Barker (D-Aloha) has endorsed Avakian and called the revelations against Wu “one more nail in the coffin.”
“I think he has too many personal problems in his life right now,” Barker told The Oregonian. “Congress isn’t the right place for him right now.”
Democrats in Wu’s Washington County, Oregon district plan on holding a “No Confidence” vote Wednesday, but regardless of the outcome, the party cannot force Wu to resign unless he is criminally convicted. If Wu were to resign, Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber would call a special election.
Late Friday, Wu issued a one-sentence statement saying, “This is very serious and I have absolutely no desire to bring unwanted publicity, attention, or stress to a young woman and her family.”
The Young woman and her parents declined to speak to a reporter outside their home on Friday. However, the family did speak through their attorney David Swanson, saying, “They are not interested in talking to” the press. Interestingly, and according to his website, Swanson is an attorney who specializes in criminal law.
The incident allegedly occurred in Southern California about three weeks after the November 2010 elections.
This is not Wu’s first involvement in an alleged inappropriate sexual encounter.
In 2004, the Oregonian reported on a 1976 case that happened when Wu was a student at Stanford University. As a result, he was disciplined for trying to force a former girlfriend to have sex.
When the story was first published three weeks before the 2004 elections, Wu sought to stop publication of the story but later apologized for his “inexcusable behavior.” He was re-elected soon afterward.
This is the latest in a round of inappropriate sexual instances that have rocked the U.S. House of Representatives this year. Former Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) resigned in June after sending pictures of himself to several women via Twitter.
