House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called Monday for the Ethics Committee to investigate Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.).
“I am deeply disappointed and saddened about this situation; for Anthony’s wife, Huma, his family, his staff and his constituents,” the California Democrat said in a statement. “I am calling for an Ethics Committee investigation to determine whether any official resources were used or any other violation of House rules occurred.”
A spokeswoman for House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer said the Maryland Democrat supports Pelosi’s call. “Mr. Hoyer has long stated that if there have been any questions regarding ethics that have been raised in the public sphere that the Ethics Committee should look at them,” spokeswoman Katie Grant said in a statement.
He also told reporters that he had already spoken to Pelosi. He argued that there was no need for a Congressional investigation, saying that his interactions with the women were done on his time and on his personal BlackBerry.
Pelosi had stayed mum about Weiner’s imbroglio until Monday afternoon.
It is unclear whether Weiner violated ethics rules, and during his news conference he denied doing so. “I welcome and will fully cooperate with an investigation by the House Ethics Committee,” he said in a statement responding to Pelosi.
The Members’ Congressional Handbook states that “incidental personal use of equipment and supplies owned or leased by, or the cost of which is reimbursed by, the House of Representatives is permitted only when such use is negligible in nature, frequency, time consumed, and expense.”
Pelosi isn’t the only politician to weigh in on the matter. New York State Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox went further, calling on Weiner to step down.
“Anthony Weiner’s actions have demonstrated a lack of judgment and his repeated dishonesty has broken the bonds of trust with his family, his constituents and the American people,” Cox said in a statement. “It is now clear that to further a cover-up he stood by while encouraging others, including Congressional employees, to lie, slander and discredit the professional reputations of those who were telling the truth.”
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