As New Photos Surface, Calls For Congressman's Weiner's Resignation Grow
WASHINGTON (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A new set of Anthony Weiner photos appeared Sunday on the entertainment website TMZ as more lawmakers joined the movement calling for the New York congressman's resignation.
Weiner has admitted to sending messages and photos ranging from suggestive to explicit with several women online. The photos posted Sunday were purportedly taken in the House members' gym and show a shirt-less Weiner with a towel around his waist and his hand on his crotch.
TMZ said the photos were sent online to at least one woman.
Gallery: Congressman Weiner Photos (Warning: Explicit)
Meanwhile, Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the No. 2 House Democrat, joined party leadership calling for Weiner to quit in wake of the sexting scandal.
"This is bizarre, unacceptable behavior," he said of Weiner's texting inappropriate pictures of himself to young women. Hoyer said it would be "extraordinarily difficult'' for Weiner to continue to represent his constituents effectively.
A rally calling for Weiner to resign is being held outside of his Kew Gardens office Sunday afternoon. Constituents of Weiner's 9th congressional district and members of the civic group, the Juniper Park Civic Association, are expected to attend.
On Saturday, Weiner announced he was seeking a temporary leave of absence from congress so he could go into treatment. What type of treatment and where is still unclear.
As lawmakers continue to call for Weiner to step down, New York governor Andrew Cuomo is not calling for Weiner's resignation, saying it's a federal matter. But he does say the scandal is "disturbing" and "unhelpful on a number of level."
1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck reports: Cuomo Comments On Weiner Sexting Scandal
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House Democratic leader, Rep. Nancy Pelosi has called for an ethics investigation to see if Weiner broke any House rules.
Hoyer said the ethics committee process to decide if Weiner had committed an expellable offense would take time. He said he didn't see how Weiner could stay in office.
"Any process, judicial process, through the ethics committee is going to take time I don't know that we have that time," he said.
Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said Weiner should resign.
"We've got important work to do and this is a ridiculous distraction,'' he said in an appearance with Hoyer on "Face the Nation'' on CBS. "Yes he should resign. I don't take pleasure in saying that," he added.
National party head Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who was one of the lawmakers calling for Weiner to step down on Saturday, said party officials initially gave Weiner "some breathing room'' to reach the conclusion that he needed to step down on his own, but that the leadership decided to toughen their stance Saturday after it became apparent he would not do so.
"He needs to resign. He needs to focus on getting his own personal issues in order," she said.
When asked about it at the Puerto Rican Day Parade New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the longer this goes on, everyone in public life suffers.
"It's all obviously very concerning and disturbing. This furthers the stigmatization of politicians," he said.
Weiner left Queens for an undisclosed treatment center. Sources close to him told CBS 2 they saw the first cracks in his defiant attitude, but that he could wait until midweek to make any announcement, which is when when his pregnant wife, Huma, returns from Africa with her boss, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
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"Any process, judicial process, through the ethics committee is going to take time I don't know that we have that time.")
