Weiner quits Congress over lewd photo scandal

SEARED by scandal, New York politician Anthony Weiner announced his resignation from the US Congress yesterday, done in by lewd photos he took of himself, sent to women online and then adamantly lied about after being caught.

“I’m here today to again apologise for the personal mistakes I have made and the embarrassment I have caused,” he said reading from a brief statement in Brooklyn.

“I make this apology to my neighbours and my constituents, but I make it particularly to my wife, Huma.”

Weiner’s wife was absent as he announced his decision, as she was 10 days ago when he admitted having sent inappropriate messages and photos to several women online.

Weiner said he had hoped to remain in Congress but conceded his predicament had made that impossible. Instead, he said he would resign “so my colleagues can get back to work, my neighbours can choose a new representative and, most importantly, that my wife and I can continue to heal from the damage I have caused.”

In part, that echoed what party leaders have said for days as they pressured him to resign so Democrats could resume positioning themselves for the 2012 election campaign without constant criticism from Republicans on moral grounds.

Weiner made his announcement at the same senior citizen centre in Brooklyn where he announced his candidacy for the New York city council in 1992. He did not take questions, leaving unsaid whether his resignation from Congress marked an end to his career, or perhaps an ignominious pause for a brash liberal with ambitions to become mayor of New York.

Weiner, 46, has been on leave from the House since last weekend. He had not been seen in public since telling reporters on Saturday morning he intended to return to work.

Weiner’s decision to give up his House seat marks the end of a nearly three-week sex scandal without the sex — an event that resulted from his use of social media such as Twitter and Facebook.

It also signals a pause if not an end in a once-promising political career. Weiner ran for New York mayor in 2005, and had talked of seeking the office again.

He at first denied having sent any inappropriate photos, then recanted in a remarkable news conference 10 days ago at which he admitted having exchanged inappropriate messages with several women.

His confession triggered a tabloid-style frenzy in print and online that grew more pronounced a few days later when an X-rated photo surfaced on a website.

President Barack Obama added to the pressure on Monday, saying it he were in Weiner’s situation, he would step down.