Rep. Anthony Weiner Admits The Photo Obscene Twitter, And More
Reporting from Los Angeles and New York
Rep. Anthony Weiner has an almost ubiquitous presence in the media last week, making the rounds of news show to protest his innocence: No, the Congress of New York said repeatedly that he did tweet a sexually suggestive photo himself from the waist down for a college student. Perhaps his Twitter account was hacked.
But on Monday, a press conference tears in New York, Weiner, 46, 'confessed up. He said he had lied repeatedly to the embarrassment and shame. Indeed, it was sent to photograph a woman in the State of Washington, and he was an inappropriate contact in line with many others over the last three years.
"I have an unfortunate thing, and for that I apologize," said Weiner. "I think what I did see a deep personal bankruptcy."
Weiner, who is long overdue candidate for mayor of New York in 2013, said he would not resign, but let his constituents decide his fate. It was not immediately clear if the congressional Democrats would react so badly that the Republicans did in February, faces a similar scandal. They drove to New York Rep. Chris Lee to resign after marrying Congress sent a cell phone photo of him shirtless with a woman he met on Craigslist.
So far, no Democrats publicly urged him to resign Weiner. But the House, Nancy Pelosi, Democratic leader of San Francisco and other party officials called for an investigation ethics committee to determine if resources have been used official or any other violation of House rules has occurred. Weiner, who told reporters that Pelosi had urged in a phone call to tell the truth and expressed her disappointment in him, he said later welcomed the investigation.
Appearing before Weiner, Andrew Breitbart, a conservative news website broke the story Weiner is a sexually charged tweet, crashed in a press conference. Angry Weiner supporters who accused him of hacking into the account of the Member, Breitbart took the microphone at the hotel for about six minutes.
"Honestly, I would like an excuse for him to be complicit in an approach-blaming the messenger," Breitbart said. "I'm here for some reason."
Surreal theatrics combined familiar elements of contemporary sex scandals with some novel twists - an Internet entrepreneur and party goods in a tarnished political rebel with new technologies, confessions pol rogue tears, shouted questions from reporters gathered. And all this takes place in real time - live on the Internet, Twitter by observers or beams of the living rooms on TV.
"It's not even Shakespeare," said Baruch College Professor Doug Muzzio. "It's absurd theater. The rule in politics when you make a mistake or stupid to get out, get him out early, because at least you get some credit for the exit. He kept the story alive, and therefore, once he bleed for a week, so he decides to come clean. really bad. "
Breitbart, whose website on Monday published a photo of Weiner, shirtless, obtained from a second wife, said he had another picture of the potentially harmful Weiner, but not to release him "to save his family."
ABC News reported that it was a conversation with another woman claims to have "sexually electronic relationship" with Weiner. E 'was found in 26 years single mother, Texas, apparently the same person from whom the image obtained Breitbart Weiner shirtless. ABC said the woman had sent the photos, emails and Facebook messages, and that its interaction with Weiner was started on April 20.
Weiner voice broke almost every time he mentioned his wife, Huma Abedin, an assistant secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton. Former President Clinton officiated at the couple's lavish wedding Long Island July 10th.
"My wife is an extraordinary woman," said the contrite Weiner, who is often described as arrogant, brash border. "He is not responsible for all this ... and I apologize to him very deeply."
Breitbart, who lives in Los Angeles, was in New York for a media appearance. He learned from the press conference of his moments Weiner trading partner after having checked into a New York hotel four blocks away, and rushed past.
Breitbart minutes away, Weiner followed him to the podium and took the blame for sending pornographic pictures and comments, at least six of his fans on Twitter and Facebook. He said he had never had sex with them, and he had not met them personally.
He apologized to Breitbart.
The effect of the scandal will have on Weiner's career is difficult to predict. The seven-run Congress has repeatedly re-elected in his district of Brooklyn and Queens by a wide margin.
Hank Sheinkof, New York time, a Democratic strategist, said Weiner had ruined their chances of success for New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. "It's very embarrassing," said Sheinkof. "The requirements for the second most difficult task in the United States do not understand sexting.
Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist College Institute of Public Opinion, agreed that the scandal has probably derailed the mayoral aspirations Weiner - but perhaps only temporarily.
"When you're in the same paragraph as Arnold Schwarzenegger, John Edwards, Eliot Spitzer ... not a good band to be part of," said Miringoff. But if he said that voters like you who, citing the vicissitudes of President Clinton, who can forgive.
"Voters can make the distinction between doing a good job and a sign error," said Miringoff. "So I think it is very important for him to emphasize concept dating back to work."
Queens Borough President Helen Marshall said she would continue to support Weiner. "I sat beside him for 10 years and I think everyone is entitled to a mistake," she said. "I think a woman he has to answer to is his wife."
robin.abcarian @ latimes.com
tina.susman @ latimes.com
Abcarian reported from Los Angeles, and Susman from New York. Times staff writers Geraldine Baum in New York and Lisa Mascaro in the Washington bureau contributed to this report.
