WASHINGTON, D.C.: There was little sympathy among US politicians on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) for Rep. Anthony Weiner of New York, one day after the Democratic lawmaker admitted in a teary-eyed press conference to maintaining a string of lewd online relationships.
The 46-year-old Weiner said that he was “deeply ashamed” for his behavior, which included sending a close-up picture of his aroused penis inside his underwear to a woman in Seattle via his Twitter account, but indicated that he would not resign.
Weiner denied for a week sending the picture and claimed that his account had been hacked. But on Monday he came clean, and confessed to sending naughty pictures and sexting with about six women over the years.
Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor became the first elected official to call for Weiner’s resignation.
“I don’t condone his activity. And I think he should resign,” Cantor said during a visit to Louisa, Virginia, according to local newspaper Daily Progress.
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi called for a probe to see if Weiner violated House rules, and on Tuesday formally referred the case for investigation.
Weiner “disclosed conduct which he described as inappropriate,” Pelosi said in a statement, adding, “An investigation by the Ethics Committee . . . is warranted.”
In the Senate, Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid said that his embattled House colleague is on his own.
“I know [Rep.] Weiner. I wish there was some way I can defend him, but I can’t,” Reid told reporters.
What advice he would give if Weiner asked for help? “Call somebody else,” Reid replied.
The head of the Republican Party, Reince Priebus, called for Weiner to quit.
“[Rep.] Weiner’s actions and deception are unacceptable and he should resign,” Priebus said in a statement.
However Weiner, a seven-term Democratic legislator who until the scandal was seen as a leading candidate for mayor of New York City in 2013, said that he does not intend to quit his House of Representatives seat.
