The recent controversy regarding Congressman Anthony Weiner and the lewd photo sent via his Twitter account may result in an ethics investigation. Representative Nancy Pelosi, one of Weiner’s fellow Democrats, is calling for an investigation to begin into the matter. Weiner has admitted the photo was of himself.
Congressman Weiner admits to affairs, lewd photos
A lewd photo from the Twitter account of Representative Anthony Weiner, a New York state Democrat, became the subject of a media firestorm in the past week. Weiner initially declared that his account had been hacked, denied he was the person pictured in the photo, and decried the unrelenting attention paid to the incident. However, according to Reuters, the Congressman has changed his tune. Weiner has admitted that he was in the photo, and had intended to send it to a friend in Seattle as a joke but mistakenly put it on the main Anthony Weiner Twitter page. The intended receiver was a student at a university in Washington state.
Former Speaker calls for investigation
In response to the incident, former Speaker of the House and current House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi declared that she was “deeply disappointed and saddened” by the incident. She is also, according to the Los Angeles Times, calling for a Congressional investigation into the matter. If an investigation is launched, the House Ethics Committee will look into whether Congressman Weiner used an Congressional or public resources to make or transmit the photo. Weiner insists he did not use the Blackberry he keeps for work purposes in any way to take the photograph or transmit it via Twitter. Weiner also admitted that he had been engaging in inappropriate online relationships, according to CBS, but that his online misbehavior was confined to messages and photos. A 26-year-old Texan woman, according to ABC, named Meagan Broussard has come forward describing exchanges with Weiner.
Latest Congressional sex scandal
Political sex scandals are somewhat routine, and Weiner’s serious misstep is far from the worst offense in recent memory. Former President Bill Clinton was nearly impeached for the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Former Senator and candidate for the vice presidency and presidency John Edwards is currently facing six felony counts for his use of $900,000 from his campaign funds to cover up his affair with campaign staffer Rielle Hunter and the child he fathered with her. Edwards, according to ABC, could face up to five years per charge, or up to $250,000 in fines per charge. Should he be convicted, he could face 30 years in prison or up to $1.5 million in fines if given the maximum penalty.
Sources
Reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/06/us-usa-politics-weiner-idUSTRE7555YA20110606
Los Angeles Times: http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-anthony-weiner-reaction-20110606,0,6937768.story?track=rss
CBS: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20069465-503544.html
ABC on Anthony Weiner: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/rep-anthony-weiner-picture/story?id=13774605
ABC on John Edwards: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/john-edwards-break-law-indictment/story?id=13750805
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