WASHINGTON — Embattled U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner said Saturday he is taking a short leave of absence and seeking professional treatment, as a host of frustrated Democratic leaders called for him to leave office, saying the “sordid affair” has become a distraction for the party.
It was unknown how long the New York Democrat would take off, but it was clear that the temporary break was not enough to satisfy Democrats who were hoping a coordinated show of disapproval from party leaders would force him to step down.
“The behavior he has exhibited is indefensible, and Rep. Weiner’s continued service in Congress is untenable,” said Democratic National Committee chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida.
She was joined by Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi of California and Steve Israel of New York, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, who all issued stern statements calling for Weiner’s immediate resignation.
An aide to Pelosi noted that the congresswoman was aware of Weiner’s intent to take a leave of absence when she called on him to “seek that help without the pressures of being a member of Congress.”
The mounting calls for Weiner’s resignation came as police in New Castle County, Del., opened an investigation Friday into Weiner’s electronic communication with a 17-year-old high school student.
Weiner, questioned Saturday by a throng of reporters who were following him as he ran errands, said he did nothing wrong.
New Castle County police in a statement said detectives had interviewed the teen “and she has made no disclosure of criminal activity, no inappropriate contact by the congressman.”
Weiner’s office in a statement said the congressman left Saturday “to seek professional treatment to focus on becoming a better husband and healthier person.”
It said Weiner would request a “short leave of absence” from the House “so that he can get evaluated and map out a course of treatment to make himself well.”
“Congressman Weiner takes the views of his colleagues very seriously,” the statement said. “And he has determined that he needs this time to get healthy and make the best decision possible for himself, his family and his constituents.”
Even before the news of the teenager emerged, Democrats were growing increasingly frustrated by Weiner and the scandal stemming from the married congressman’s propensity for sexting and sending lewd photos of himself over the Internet to women he met on social-networking sites.
Democratic aides said Saturday that the DNC and the congressional committee had decided Weiner had to leave even before news of the Delaware incident surfaced. They said discussions between top leaders resulted in a Saturday morning deadline for Weiner to voluntarily step down — or to face mounting pressure from his colleagues.
Weiner has said he is staying on the job, and some appeared to give him some room. House assistant Democratic leader Jim Clyburn of South Carolina said Saturday that he was standing by his earlier comments that the full Democratic caucus should take up the issue when it returns to Washington on Monday.
