Nancy Pelosi calls for ethics probe of Rep. Anthony Weiner over lewd Twitter photo

Source: Raw Story
By Eric W. Dolan

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi called Monday for an Ethics Committee investigation of New York Congressman Anthony Weiner (D) after he admitted that he tweeted a lewd photo to a college student and then falsely claimed his Twitter account had been hacked.

"I am deeply disappointed and saddened about this situation; for Anthony's wife, Huma, his family, his staff and his constituents," Pelosi said in a statement. "I am calling for an Ethics Committee investigation to determine whether any official resources were used or any other violation of House rules occurred."

"I have not been honest with myself, my family, my constituents, my friends, my supporters, and the media,'' Rep Weiner said apologetically at a press conference Monday. "I'm deeply regretting what I have done and I'm not resigning."

In an incident that has come to be known as "Weinergate," the Twitter account of the New York congressman sent a racy photo to a female college student from Seattle. Weiner claimed that his Facebook account was hacked and that, while the photo did appear on his Twitter feed, he did not send it. The photo showed a man's erect penis outlined in a pair of tight boxer briefs and was first published by

More at: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/06/06/rep-anthony-weiner-admits-he-lied-about-sending-lewd-twitter-photo-refuses-to-resign/

...but we've got to hold our elected officials to a higher standard than the Republicans do. John Edwards stabbed us in the back and is facing some serious consequences. Why should Anthony Weiner be given a pass?

Or David Vitter?

Sorry -- but this is a witchhunt, and I suspect this is going to be used to *buy time* from the building anger about how BOTH sides have done positively JACK SHIT about jobs and the economy.

"Selective" higher standards used as CYA tactics makes the situation far worse.

Foley. All repubs. all fairly recent.

and by over-reacting to save face just makes this look even worse than it really is.

and everything to do with politics. It's a classic move for Democrats.

If its "lying to the press" they're ALL guilty.

He said in the presser that he can't recall for sure, but he thinks he only used his home computer and Blackberry while communicating with the young women.

So Pelosi's pretty much forced to do a probe, to see whether he used government resources or not. Otherwise, she would rightfully be seen as covering up for him.

Christ, Wiener, how could you be so freakin' stupid?? :(

would WANT to be in Congress and put up with that chickenshit nonsense?

to be committed for their to be an ethics violation.

disrepute on the congress, probably othes that will be investigated including if any of the contact were with undreage people (rep. Weiner said he took their word for how old they were - never smart even in real life). I don't know if any will be proven but I do think it is likely, if he stays in congress, that there will be a censure/repremand. Oh, and a lot of his Democratic congress members that will have to comment on this rather than on what this country needs.

he didn't do any of that.

(Or not much of it, anyway.)

... for phone sex with the woman with whom he exchanged over 200 explicit sext messages via his Facebook account (she's one of his Facebook "friends"). She gave the messages to RadarOnline.com and Star.com, who have published some of the choice bits.

Republicans would be asking for an investigation, anyway. She's pre-empting them to prevent them from using it as a way of accusing her of a cover-up.

to conduct the online relationships with some six women over the course of three years.

At one point after Weiner called her, one woman, Meagan Broussard, told ABC News that she called Weiner back to see if it was actually him, and an "office receptionist answered," according to the the report. Broussard provided a record of the call to ABC News.

A broad ethics rule says members should not engage in activity that reflects badly on the House as an institution, but lawmakers are rarely investigated for breaking this rule alone.

After Weiner's press conference, the head of the House Democratic re-election efforts also sought to distance himself from Weiner and agreed with Pelosi's decision to call for an ethics investigation into the matter ...

Pelosi Calls For Ethics Investigation Of Weiner In Wake Of Sexting Scandal
Susan Crabtree | June 6, 2011, 6:34PM
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/pelosi-calls-for-an-ethics-investigation-of-weiners-online-sexting-1.php

like he was using his facebook acct for sexting is just stupifying. I was under the impression there were only photos. I am at a loss for words. How could he be so dumb?

Indeed. How could any of the politicians we can both recount be so dumb?

Weiner just got married, too. If he was dogging all these women (he was sexting that one woman I know of for at least a year), why'd he get married at all? Poor Huma... the ironic thing is she's been Hillary's personal assistant forever. Imagine the conversations between those two!

One has to wonder if he loved her or simply thought she be the right sort a wife a up and coming pol should have.

I have to wonder what his sexual outlets were prior to his getting married. That he starts this sort of behavior after getting married seems like a bad joke.

<< One has to wonder if he loved her or simply thought she be the right sort a wife a up and coming pol should have.>>

I'd guess the latter, given what we know now. They dated a long long time before getting married. She's been Hillary Clinton's personal assistant for well over a decade.

<< I have to wonder what his sexual outlets were prior to his getting married. That he starts this sort of behavior after getting married seems like a bad joke. >>

Just read NPR's blog re: what he said today (I didn't watch it). He's admiited to sending wiener pics & sexting w/six different women (at least) for 3 years (at least)! Makes you wonder what the truth is... I don't believe either the number of women or the number of years.

I don't believe the number of years either and his saying it's been three years just makes it worse for his wife as it suggets that she was in some ways deficient, that prior to her he had 'normal' sexual outlets.

It beggars belief... unless, as you said, he felt the pressure to marry Huma Abedin after dating for so long (red flag right there) knowing that the Clintons would prove invaluable for his well-known ambition to run for NYC mayor after Bloomberg's third term. And we all know what being NYC mayor can lead to being considered for a presidential run.

but impeachment was off the table.

conference. "She was not happy," he said ...

Anthony Weiner Admits He Tweeted Lewd Photos, Will Not Resign
Benjy Sarlin & Eric Lach | June 6, 2011, 4:59PM
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/anthony-weiner-admits-he-tweeted-lewd-photos-will-not-resign.php?ref=fpa

You want to think twice about treating Weiner more harshly than the Bushies.

This will keep the Repubs from demanding immediate resignation (ala Chris Lee). It may buy some time to let the story grow old. The pat answer to his resignation will be, "that will be settled by the ethics committee". It will hold the salivating press at bay until the public is totally bored with it all.

At the end, they will say it was bad personal behavior and at the very worse, slap him on the hand. If they find he was doing something involving government funds, time, etc., they can censure him and move on. The worst thing Weiner could do is resist and fight back.

Now, if more comes out like nude photos, a love child (or pregnancy), or proof of an affair, he will have to go.

proposed to outlaw underwear adverts in our daily newspapers.

Lying is lying. To me that is the issue, not the photos, not the on-line conversations. HE LIED to his wife, to his colleagues, to party leadership, to his constituents. HE IS A LIAR plain and simple.

Even if it turns out that he did ten times as much of everything as has become public so far...

IT'S STILL FUCKING TRIVIAL IN COMPARISON WITH THE REST OF CONGRESS

I think getting anyone with a conflict of interest with business groups out of Congress is much more IMPORTANT for the country to be working on than policing the sex lives of politicians.

and if he did, he should receive the appropriate penalty.

This emphasizes the integrity gap between Democrats and Republicans.

I asked a simple question last week about why Weiner was following the 21 year old on Twitter and folks were ready to crucify me. People need to learn how to think for themselves. I'm sick and tired of these lying, cheating politicians looking us in the face acting like they have it all together and the reality is that they are just as human and imperfect as the rest of us-- the problem is that we're the only ones who have to admit it!

For saying I was waiting to see what happened I was pooh pooh'd by some. Now I see those same some acting as if he should get a pass. It really isn't that hard to use good judgment, especially in a high profile career. I am not a Puritan, nor a prude. Yet I have, as I am sure so many here have, been able to live an adult life without seeking gratification online, nor sending pics of my privates to others. I also have never needed to stupidly lie, thinking I wouldn't be found out. I am sick and tired too.

in case nobody pointed this out before "friending" someone on Facebook or "following" them on Twitter doesn't mean that you actually have any real contact with them. A lot of people reverse follow anyone who is following them. I'm being followed by a lot of organisations I follow including some actors and politicians. I'm "friends" with some pretty high level politicians on Facebook but only because I signed some petitions and joined some groups and obviously one of their aides just came along and friended everyone in the group.

It really isn't proof of anything.

Damn idiot.