U.S. CONGRESSMAN ACCUSED OF SENDING LEWD PHOTOGRAPH

US Politician In Twitter 'Weinergate' Mystery
Tweet Comments3:12am UK, Thursday June 02, 2011

Hannah Thomas-Peter, Sky News reporter, New York

Controversy surrounds a New York congressman after he failed to deny that a lewd photograph sent from his Twitter account to a young woman is of him.


Congressman Anthony Weiner says his Twitter account was hacked


Democratic Representative Anthony Weiner said his account was hacked when a photograph of a man’s crotch was sent to a Seattle college student who he follows.

The incident, which happened on May 27, has been dubbed #weinergate on the social networking site.

After repeated questioning in one-on-one interviews with CBS news and other American news networks on Wednesday, he would only explicitly state that he did not send the photo.

However when pushed to confirm or deny if the photo was him, he told CBS news: “The photograph does not look familiar to me.

“But before I say anything I want to make sure that nothing was manipulated about it... That something wasn’t dropped into my account or taken out.”

He told NBC News: “I can’t say with certitude” who the picture is of.

Mr Weiner has over 52,000 followers but follows just 198 people, and some have questioned why a proportion of those he chooses to follow are young attractive women with no discernible connection to politics.

He has maintained he follows people if they ask him to and the process is random.



Twitter users are increasingly embroiled in social media controversy


The student later responded on Twitter and said: "I think that if I had something to hide I might be more freaked out. This really is a nightmare though."

The congressman is hiring in private investigators and an internet security company to find out what happened rather than asking the FBI or police to investigate.

He said: “It’s causing mischief but that doesn’t necessarily mean that I ask the tax payers of the United States to undergo a big investigation on who posted a silly picture on my Twitter page.

“I am trying to get to the bottom of it but I’m also trying to do something else - with all due respect... I’m trying to figure out the point at which it is reasonable and fair for me to say - this is ridiculous already.”

Mr Weiner has been trying to dilute interest in the story for days but has failed.

On May 31 he held a frosty news conference with reporters who repeatedly asked him about the photo.

The story has provided plenty of material for comedians, with Jon Stewart poking fun at the congressman.

Mr Weiner has said that he does not know the girl who received the photo and she has also stated that she does not know him.

Panda

I think this is definitely a wind-up by someone hacking - I really do.

Mind you what is he doing taking "these sorts of pictures' in the first place.

Angelique wrote:Panda

I think this is definitely a wind-up by someone hacking - I really do.

Mind you what is he doing taking "these sorts of pictures' in the first place.

Exactly. The picture was shown on Bloomberg News, just a pair of grey underpants, nothing lewd but as you say, if hacked, what were they doing on his site anyway. He"s not a bad looking guy, I just wonder at his Political integrity.

Panda wrote:

Angelique wrote:Panda

I think this is definitely a wind-up by someone hacking - I really do.

Mind you what is he doing taking "these sorts of pictures' in the first place.

Exactly. The picture was shown on Bloomberg News, just a pair of grey underpants, nothing lewd but as you say, if hacked, what were they doing on his site anyway. He"s not a bad looking guy, I just wonder at his Political integrity.

You mean it doesn't show his ermm.....weiner?

AnnaEsse wrote:

Panda wrote:

Angelique wrote:Panda

I think this is definitely a wind-up by someone hacking - I really do.

Mind you what is he doing taking "these sorts of pictures' in the first place.

Exactly. The picture was shown on Bloomberg News, just a pair of grey underpants, nothing lewd but as you say, if hacked, what were they doing on his site anyway. He"s not a bad looking guy, I just wonder at his Political integrity.

You mean it doesn't show his ermm.....weiner?

No AnnaEsse.........I was so disappointed. You know those underpants with the buttons at the front, that"s all you see. Apparently he has a
list of "fans " and the 19yr old is a Student. Much ado about nothing if you ask me, I don"t think he was hacked though.

Weiner has admitted sending lewd photographs on the Internet but will not resign. He says he will face a U.S. Ethics Committee.

OOOOOH the little Liar, they are all alike, Politicians , can"t trust any of them. I bet he doesn"t get voted in at the Elections next Year..

Panda

Talk about a climb down - how embarrassing was that - stupid oaf! Why go on the media and declare it was not true and then days later admit it.

'Weinergate' Politician Enters Treatment
Comments3:27am UK, Sunday June 12, 2011

The US politician at the centre of the 'Weinergate' lewd photo scandal has announced he was entering professional treatment at an undisclosed location.


Politician Anthony Weiner has sought treatment but refuses to resign


Anthony Weiner requested a leave of absence from congress but has come under fierce pressure from fellow Democrats to resign in the 'sex texting' scandal that has embroiled the married politician.

An aide for the embattled New York politician revealed the decision to enter treatment shortly after several Democratic party leaders demanded he quit for exchanging messages and photos ranging from sexually suggestive to explicit with several women online.

"This sordid affair has become an unacceptable distraction for Representative Weiner, his family, his constituents and the House," Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, said in a written statement.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said Weiner "has the love of his family, the confidence of his constituents and the recognition that he needs help.



Mr Weiner made a tearful confession to reporters


"I urge congressman Weiner to seek that help without the pressures of being a member of congress."

Aides said later that Ms Pelosi had been aware of Mr Weiner's plan to enter treatment when she issued her statement, and her call for a resignation had not changed because of it.

Mr Weiner's spokeswoman, Risa Heller, said in the statement that the congressman departed "to seek professional treatment to focus on becoming a better husband and healthier person.

"In light of that, he will request a short leave of absence from the House of Representatives so that he can get evaluated and map out a course of treatment to make himself well."



His wife Huma Abedin works for secretary of state Hillary Clinton


The statement did not say where he would receive treatment, or what type was involved. Others familiar with his plans said he had left New York by air.

The developments occurred one day after Mr Weiner acknowledged he had exchanged online messages with a 17-year-old girl in Delaware. He said nothing improper had passed between the two of them.

Nor was there even an allegation that he had a physical relationship with any of the women with whom he maintained virtual relationships.

It has since been revealed his wife is pregnant with the couple's first child.
That made his case a departure from the norm, a sex scandal without sex, a phenomenon of the age of Facebook, Twitter and other social media.

Democrats said the concerted call for Mr Weiner's resignation had been brewing for days, as senior party officials concluded the scandal was interfering with their attempts to gain political momentum in advance of the 2012 elections.

Democrats hope to rebound from a devastating election defeat last November.

"We had decided we were not going to have one more week of Anthony Weinergate," one official said.

Panda

Have you seen his wife, Humar Abedin, One wonders what she's doing stuck to a man like this.

Angelique wrote:Panda

Have you seen his wife, Humar Abedin, One wonders what she's doing stuck to a man like this.

Hi Angelique, Yes I saw the photo but am no good at getting any photos on to the Forum I don"t know if his Wife knew about his pecadillos,
but many Women ignore such things when they are married to powerful men.......look at Hilary Clinton!!!

Panda

True very true - she's pregnant with his child - for high flyers it was too stupid for him to behave in this way. Obama says resign. I expect his wife will survive working for Hilary. What a mess!

Angelique wrote:Panda

True very true - she's pregnant with his child - for high flyers it was too stupid for him to behave in this way. Obama says resign. I expect his wife will survive working for Hilary. What a mess!

Well at least she can expect support from Hilary, because she experienced the public shame of Bill"s anticsbut survived and look at her now.!!!!

Looks like whether he likes it or not, Weiner will be forced to resign........Obama has stepped in .

Panda wrote:

Angelique wrote:Panda

True very true - she's pregnant with his child - for high flyers it was too stupid for him to behave in this way. Obama says resign. I expect his wife will survive working for Hilary. What a mess!

Well at least she can expect support from Hilary, because she experienced the public shame of Bill"s anticsbut survived and look at her now.!!!!

Yes still married to that unfaithful bastard. She is a strong independent woman, so why does she let herself be treated like she is a piece of shit? Even if he was a good shag, I would have divorced him, and gave myself some self respect, o.k. nip back for a quickie, but the public divorce would have been a huge boost to women who are trapped in relationships to bastards.

Weiner Resigns Over Online Sex Scandal
2 Comments2:15am UK, Friday June 17, 2011

Hannah Thomas-Peter, Sky News reporter

Disgraced US politician Anthony Weiner has resigned from his post after admitting to a series of inappropriate online relationships with women.

:: Warning: This video contains flash photography
The embattled congressman from New York stood before the world and once again apologised for his "personal mistakes" and the "embarrassment I have caused" before saying he had no choice but to stand down.

"I'd hoped to be able to continue the work that the citizens of my district elected me to do - to fight for the middle class and those struggling to make it," he said.

"But unfortunately the distraction that I have created has made that impossible.

"So today I am announcing my resignation from Congress so that 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."


WEINER RESIGNS: VIDEO CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY
Mr Weiner apologised and thanked his constituents and his family, particularly his wife Huma Abedin, who is a top aide to secretary of state Hillary Clinton and is pregnant with the couple's first child.

"I am here today to again apologise for the personal mistakes I have made and the embarrassment I have caused," he added.

He is the third member of the US Congress this year to step down because of a sex scandal.

The move comes after a news conference on Wednesday by former porn star Ginger Lee, who told reporters she had exchanged around 100 emails and Twitter messages with the under-fire politician.



Ginger Lee claims Mr Weiner asked her to lie


According to Ms Lee, Mr Weiner asked her to lie about their contact, eventually phoning her to ask her to keep quiet and avoid the press in the hope that the story would die down.

She said: "I think that Anthony Weiner should resign because he lied. He lied to the public and the press for more than a week.

"If he lied about this, I can't have much faith in him about anything else."

Previously the congressman admitted to a series of inappropriate online relationships with as many of six women over three years.



Mr Weiner apologised for the "embarrassment" he had caused


He had initially lied about the scandal when a lewd photograph appeared on his Twitter page, claiming he had been hacked.

The White House had called him a "distraction" and President Obama said earlier this week: "If that were me, I would resign."

The 46-year-old politician had been at an undisclosed treatment facility after taking a two-week leave of absence from Congress to seek help for his behaviour.

Senior Democrats had been due to hold a meeting on Thursday to discuss the situation - and rumours had been circulating that they were ready to force him out if he did not resign.



Huma Abedin, pictured with Hilary Clinton, is expecting the couple's first child


Simultaneously the House Ethics Committee had formally opened an inquiry into Mr Weiner's conduct, which included exchanging private messages with a teenage girl from Delaware.

While there was talk about expelling Mr Weiner, his choice to resign should terminate the investigation, as the committee only has jurisdiction only over the actions of members of Congress.

Panda

Yes heard this announcedlate yestrday evening.

Result!

If he hadn't lied he made have survived - still better the lesson learnt.

Angelique wrote:Panda

Yes heard this announcedlate yestrday evening.

Result!

If he hadn't lied he made have survived - still better the lesson learnt.

I feel sorry for his Wife, especially since she is expecting his Baby.

Panda wrote:

Angelique wrote:Panda

Yes heard this announcedlate yestrday evening.

Result!

If he hadn't lied he made have survived - still better the lesson learnt.

I feel sorry for his Wife, especially since she is expecting his Baby.

Me too, don't think I could stay with him