Weiner Seeks Treatment After Pelosi Calls on Him to Resign

Update: The New York Times reports that Anthony Weiner is not resigning, but is seeking leave from the House to enter a treatment center.

The top Democratic leaders, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, have called on Rep. Anthony Weiner to resign in the midst of his sex scandal. Pelosi and the chairs of the Democratic National Committee, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Steve Israel, released statements within minutes of each other Saturday, Politico reports.

“Congressman Weiner has the love of his family, the confidence of his constituents, and the recognition that he needs help,” Pelosi said. “I urge Congressman Weiner to seek that help without the pressures of being a Member of Congress.” Israel said, “Anthony’s inappropriate behavior has become an insurmountable distraction to the House and our work for the American people. With a heavy heart, I call on Anthony to resign.” Finally, Wasserman Schultz, surrogate for President Obama in her role as DNC chairman, said “the behavior he has exhibited is indefensible and Representative Weiner’s continued service in Congress is untenable.”

Meanwhile, Rep. Weiner has admitted to sending direct twitter messages to a 17-year-old girl, but denied that anything was inappropriate. According to the New York Post, he said, "Nothing explicit. Nothing indecent. Absolutely nothing inappropriate." The direct messages in question have yet to be released. This is what we know so far.

The girl's mother, whose name is being withheld, told The Post Wednesday that Weiner sent nothing obscene — and sent only two brief messages to her daughter about seeing him during an April school trip to the Capitol.

The mom did say her daughter wrote in one message, "I'm in love with you," but explained it away with, "She's 17."

However, Politico reports that in one message, Weiner described himself as being like Superman, saying, “I came back strong. Large. Tights and cape. …” It was not clear what the reference was about. Nonetheless, this new investigation, and the possibility of more, may have been the final straw for the leading Democrats. According to Politico, their joint statement adds "tremendous pressure to the New York Democrat to abandon his position that he will remain in office."

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