In the end, Anthony Weiner seemed to lack the friends needed to salvage his career. Left with severely limited options, he’s stepping down.
Rep. Anthony Weiner of New York will step down from office amid intense pressure from congressional Democrats following his admission of risque online chats and photo swaps with multiple women and lying about it, sources tell ABC News.
Weiner, 46, has begun sharing his decision with close friends, the sources said, but has not yet sent a formal letter to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo indicating his intentions.
A Democratic source said Weiner called House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Steve Israel, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Wednesday night while they were at a White House picnic to inform them he would resign today.
The announcement comes just as the House Democratic leadership was preparing to remove Weiner from his committee assignments.
As of this morning, Weiner’s staff had packed up their things, left the congressman’s office, shut off the lights, and locked the door.
There will have to a special election to fill the vacancy in Weiner’s New York district, and Democrats expect to keep the seat.
I may be in the minority, but I’m still not at all convinced Weiner’s misdeeds warranted a resignation, but I’m at least somewhat hopeful that his departure will encourage the political world to shift its attention back to my weighty issues.
Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), meanwhile, remains a senator in good standing, despite his lies and habit of hiring hookers. Rumors that he could be heard laughing his ass off after learning of Weiner’s resignation are unconfirmed.
