New York Democratic Representative Anthony Weiner has admitted he sent a lewd photograph to a female college student using his Twitter account after previously denying he had done so. Weiner apologized for lying but said he will not resign.
During a televised news conference Monday in New York, an emotional Weiner also admitted that he had what he said were “inappropriate” conversations on the Internet and telephone with about six women both before and after his recent marriage. But, he said he had not met any of the women and has not had a physical relationship outside his year-old marriage. Weiner’s wife, Huma Abedin, is a longtime aide to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Weiner said his wife learned the truth “this morning.”
The 46-year-old Weiner insisted he had not broken the law.
House Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has called for an Ethics Committee investigation to determine whether any official resources were used or any other violation of House rules occurred.
Pressure had been building on the New York congressman after the lewd photo reached a woman in the state of Washington via his Twitter account. For several days, Weiner claimed to have been the victim of computer hackers.
Analysts say Weiner may come under pressure from Democratic colleagues to quickly resign because of the potential political fallout from an embarrassing sex scandal, complete with numerous Internet photos. Several photos surfaced Monday of Congressman Weiner shirtless, flexing his muscles.
There was speculation Weiner was planning to run for mayor of New York City in 2013. Now his political future is in doubt.