Weiner to Step Down

By Jon E. Dougherty at 16 Jun 2011

(Newsroom America) -- After being pressured for days by top Democrats, Rep. Anthony Weiner said Thursday he would resign his House seat amid a sexting scandal that threatened to derailed his political career.

Weiner confided in friends his intention to step down, The New York Times reported, as Democratic leaders said they would meet today to discuss stripping the 46-year-old New York Democrat of his committee assignments.

The paper said Weiner concluded he could no longer serve after having long talks with his wife, Huma Abedin, when she returned home on Tuesday after traveling abroad with her boss, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Top Democrats, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, have been calling for Weiner to resign for days following admissions he made last week that he had sent inappropriate text messages and photos to women online, including a Delaware girl who was only 17 years old.

Amid calls for his resignation, the House Ethics Committee had opened a formal inquiry into whether Weiner violated chamber rules when sending the messages. The Times said it was possible Weiner could have faced charges and even expulsion, but his decision to resign means that investigation will likely end.

Contact Jon E. Dougherty