POLITICS

PICTURES: Political Sex Scandals

John Edwards

By National Journal Staff

Updated: April 24, 2012 | 12:56 p.m.
February 10, 2011 | 8:20 a.m.

Indicted last June for using campaign funds to cover-up an extramarital affair while he was running for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination, former Senator John Edwards' criminal trial begins Monday, April 23.

This latest flap is hardly the first in Washington. Here is a look at other political scandals.

sex scandals

<p>A federal grand jury indicted former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina on last June on charges stemming from payments related to covering up an extramarital affair. His trial begins April 23. When the tabloid <em>National Enquirer</em> revealed the story of the former vice-presidential nominee's affair and resulting baby, he originally denied it. But his denial was short-lived, and he ultimately found himself estranged from his wife, Elizabeth, who died in 2010.</p> - AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File

<p>About a dozen Secret Service agents who <a href="http://nationaljournal.com/obama-addresses-secret-service-allegations-20120415">accompanied President Obama</a> to the Summit of the Americas in Colombia were relieved of duty after allegations of misconduct, including soliciting prostitutes, surfaced during their stay at a Cartagena hotel. </p> - AP Photo/Fernando Vergara

<p>Rep. <strong>David Wu</strong>, D-Ore., announced his resignation from Congress on Aug. 3 in the wake of a July 22 <a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/07/rep_david_wu_accused_of_aggres.html">report by <em>The Oregonian</em></a> that he had a sexual encounter with a teenage girl, a Democratic source confirmed to <em>National Journal</em>. Wu's resignation comes after House Minority Leader <strong>Nancy Pelosi</strong>, D-Calif., and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman <strong>Steve Israel</strong>, D-N.Y., asked the Ethics Committee to investigate the allegations. Democratic leadership was also pressuring Wu to resign, according to a House leadership source.</p> - PHOTO: Via Seattle Weekly

<p>At a June 6 press conference, Rep. Anthony Weiner, D.N.Y., acknowledged he sent a lewd Twitter photo of himself to a college student, after he had previously denied doing so. Weiner announced his resignation from Congress on June 16 after Democratic leaders, including President Obama, suggested it was time for him to step down.</p> - PHOTO: Alex Wong/Getty Images

<p>Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who resigned as managing director of the International Monetary Fund on May 18, appears for his arraignment in federal court in New York City on May 16. Strauss-Kahn was held without bail.</p> - PHOTO: Emmanuel Dunand-Pool/Getty Images)

<p>Arnold Schwarzenegger admitted on May 16 that he fathered a child with his longtime housekeeper. The event triggered his separation with wife Maria Shriver earlier this year.</p>

<p>Rep.<strong> Chris Lee,</strong> R-N.Y., with his family during a mock swearing-in ceremony in Washington on Jan. 5, 2011 (left). Lee allegedly posed for a woman he met on Craiglist (right).</p> - PHOTO: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin (L) / Gawker (R)

<p>The Senate Ethics Committee announced in May  the appointment of a special counsel to assist in its inquiry of Sen. <a href="http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/person/john-ensign-nv/"><strong>John Ensign</strong></a>'s extramarital affair with a former staffer and alleged attempts to cover it up.</p> - PHOTO: KAREN BLEIER/Getty Images

<p>Former Rep. <a href="http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/person/eric-massa-ny/"><strong>Eric Massa</strong></a> resigned on March 8, 2010, in the face of allegations that he sexually harassed a male junior staff member.</p> - PHOTO: Mark Finkenstaedt for General Motors via Getty Images

<p>Former Gov. Mark Sanford, R-S.C., admitted to an affair with a woman in Argentina. He had originally explained his absence from South Carolina to visit the woman by saying he had been hiking.</p> - PHOTO: Davis Turner/Getty Images

<p>Former Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge stemming from an investigation into lewd behavior in the men's restroom of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.</p>

<p>Former Rep. <strong>Mark Foley,<strong> R-Fla., resigned abruptly from the House in 2006 over sexual e-mails to male former congressional pages.</p> - PHOTO: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

<p>Former New York Democratic Gov. <strong>Eliot Spitzer </strong>announces his resignation as his wife, Silda Wall Spitzer, stands next to him on March 12, 2008. Spitzer, referred to as "Client 9" in an affidavit, was caught using a prostitution service called Emperors Club VIP.</p> - PHOTO: Chris Hondros/Getty Images

<p>Sen. <a href="http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/person/david-vitter-la/"><strong>David Vitter</strong></a>'s political career was dealt a major blow in July 2007 when it was revealed that between 1999 and 2001 his phone number had appeared on the call list of “D.C. Madam” Deborah Jeane Palfrey. A week later he appeared with his wife, Wendy, at his side and issued a public apology, saying he had committed “a very serious sin.”</p>
<p>Despite the well-publicized scandals, Louisianans have continued to support Vitter, and he cruised to reelection in 2010.</p> - PHOTO: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

<p>President Clinton pauses a moment while being asked about former White House intern Monica Lewinsky at a joint press conference at the White House with Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema on March 5, 1999.</p> - PHOTO: Stephen Jaffe/AFP/Getty Images

sex scandals

Kenneth Chamberlain, Alissa Swango, and Theresa Poulson contributed

Want to stay ahead of the curve? Sign up for National Journal’s AM & PM Must Reads. News and analysis to ensure you don’t miss a thing.

Indiana Capitol

STATES

QUIZ: Guess the Capitol

Jim Morin: GOP and Greece

Political Humor

Morin's Animated World

Alexis Bledel

NEXT AMERICA

QUIZ: Ethnicity of Celebs

Benjamin Netanyahu

IN THE NEWS

One Year Ago Today

Leave a Comment

The National Journal Group has the right (but not the obligation) to monitor the comments and to remove any materials it deems inappropriate.

Comments powered by Disqus

U.S. AVERAGE GAS PRICE

MAP: In what states is gas over $4 a gallon?

National Journal Email Alerts

Stay ahead of the curve with these alerts.
Learn more.

AM & PM Must Reads
Sunday Talk Show Wrap-Up
Charlie Cook's Off To The Races
Charlie Cook's The Cook Report
Influence Alley
Restoration Calls
Need to Know: Presidential Race

Expert Opinions

Transportation Experts

Not Waiting for the Feds

12:16 p.m.

Latest Response by Ken Orski: The Days of Multi-Year Bills May be Over

Energy Experts

Powering Our Military: What's the Role of Clean Energy?

11:16 a.m.

Latest Response by Tim Greeff: Advanced Energy Powers Stronger Military

Energy Experts

Powering Our Military: What's the Role of Clean Energy?

10:47 a.m.

Latest Response by Margo Thorning: Smart Energy Keeps Military Strong

More Expert Opinions »