House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA) officially requested an ethics investigation of Rep. Anthony Weiner’s (D-NY) extramarital sexual online relationships with six woman after he admitted sending lewd photos of himself in a chaotic news conference Monday.
In a terse letter sent Tuesday, Pelosi called for an Ethics Committee investigation “to determine whether any official resources were used or any other violation of House rules occurred.” She first said she would call for an ethics probe Monday almost immediately after Weiner admitted to concocting an elaborate hacking tale to keep the online sexual encounters under wraps.
In the wake of the press conference, more details have emerged about the explicit nature of the online relationships, as well as evidence that Weiner used Congressional resources to conduct them and potentially manage the public relations fallout after the lewd photo first surfaced the Saturday before Memorial Day. As TPM reports, the new details are raising red flags for ethics watchdogs.
In response to TPM’s questions, Weiner spokesman Dave Arnold said only: “As Congressman Weiner said yesterday, he is fully cooperating with a House ethics inquiry, and that will be the appropriate place for any further questions to be addressed.”
Below is the full text of Pelosi’s letter:
June 7, 2011
The Honorable Jo Bonner, Chairman
The Honorable Linda T. Sanchez, Ranking Member
Ethics Committee
1015 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Chairman Bonner and Ranking Member Sanchez:
On June 6, 2011, Representative Anthony Weiner disclosed conduct which he described as inappropriate.
An investigation by the Ethics Committee to determine whether the Rules of the House of Representatives have been violated is warranted.
Sincerely,
NANCY PELOSI
Democratic Leader
