Rep. Anthony Weiner may be worn out. According to the New York Daily News, the embattled congressman is considering resigning following the latest batch of beefcake photos and calls for his resignation from the Democratic leadership. "A source close to the congressman told the Daily News that he had been adamant about keeping his seat - even amid daily new revelations of his reckless sexting," Alison Gendar reports. "But the unrelenting media coverage, the demands from his party's leaders that he step down and the appearance of more humiliating photos made Weiner realize he may not be able to bull his way through the crisis after all, the source said." Additionally, Wiener's office released a statement to Politico saying "Congressman Weiner takes the views of his colleagues very seriously and has determined that he needs this time to get healthy and make the best decision possible for himself, his family and his constituents.”
At this point, the bigwigs calling for his departure include House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman Steve Israel.
But two of his closest allies have not yet urged him to step down: his wife Huma Abedin and Chuck Schumer:
The source said one of the only people Weiner would listen to is his mentor, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). Schumer has said he is "heartbroken" over Weiner's implosion, but has stopped short of telling him to quit.
The other person Weiner will take advice from - his wife, Huma Abedin - is in Africa with her boss, Secretary of State Clinton. Weiner is still convinced Abedin won't divorce him, and is telling people she wants him to stay in Congress, sources said.
We'll see how he feels after his brief stay at a mental health treatment center and a long conversation with his wife. "Staffers say they expect he won't make any career decisions until after his wife comes home Wednesday," Gendar reports.
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