Rep. Anthony Weiner resigned Thursday afternoon, marking one of the fastest and most dramatic downfalls of a rising politician in recent memory.
The New York Democrat, 46, told a crowd at a senior center in his New York City district that he is resigning his seat to end the distraction caused by the revelation just a few weeks ago that he had been sending lewd photos and emails to women he met over Twitter.
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Weiner, who spoke over the sounds of camera shutters and a loud heckler, reportedly sent by a radio shock jock, said he had initially hoped to remain in Congress. “Unfortunately, the distraction that I have created makes that impossible so
today I am announcing my resignation from Congress,” he said.
In the hours before the announcement, Democrats were reluctant to describe themselves as relieved with the decision, even though his departure will end a painful and embarrassing political distraction for their party.
Their relief, however, was hard to hide.
As soon as the words were out of Weiner’s mouth, an official from the House Democratic campaign arm fired off a mass email to reporters from the group’s chairman, Rep. Steve Israel of New York, praising the move.
“Anthony’s decision to resign is right for him and his family, our party, and our country because we have serious work to do in Congress,” Israel said in the statement. “Last week Republican leaders introduced a bill to privatize Social Security, and the American people deserve an undistracted debate on it, Medicare, jobs, and other important issues.”
Weiner, who has repeatedly insisted he would not resign despite increasing pressure from his party’s leaders, made the announcement a day after his wife, Huma Abedin, returned from a trip to Africa with her boss, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
He apologized again to Abedin, who is pregnant, but she was not there for the announcement.
Weiner gave no indication of what he planned to do next.
“I got into politics to help give voice to the many who simply did not have one,” Weiner said. “Now, I’ll be looking for other ways to contribute my talents to make sure that we live up to that.”
House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson of Connecticut said Weiner made the right decision to step down.
“It’s difficult to watch the self destruction of a friend and to witness the breaking of hearts over what can only be categorized as reprehensible behavior and bad judgment,” Larson said.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., chastised Weiner’s actions over the past few weeks, but welcomed his resignation.
“Congressman Weiner exercised poor judgment in his actions and poor judgment in his reaction to the revelations,” Pelosi said in a statement. “Today, he made the right judgment in resigning.”
