Politics

Dem. Rep. David Wu Announces Resignation Amid Sex Allegations

Democratic Representative David Wu Resigns Amid Sex Allegations

Rep. David Wu (D-Ore.)

WASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — Following allegations that he had an unwanted sexual encounter with an 18-year-old woman, Democratic Rep. David Wu of Oregon has announced that he is resigning.

Democratic leaders had called for a House Ethics investigation after the initial reports of the allegation. The Blaze covered House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s statements here. Wu denied initial reports and has said that whatever occurred was consensual.

Wu said Tuesday the well-being of his children should come first, so he will resign after Congress resolves the debate over the debt ceiling. Here is the text of an official statement from Wu regarding the matter:

“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be a United States Congressman. Rare is the nation in which an immigrant child can become a national political figure. I thank God and my parents for the privilege of being an American.

Now, however, the time has come to hand on the privilege of high office. I cannot care for my family the way I wish while serving in Congress and fighting these very serious allegations.

The well-being of my children must come before anything else. With great sadness, I therefore intend to resign effective upon the resolution of the debt-ceiling crisis. This is the right decision for my family, the institution of the House, and my colleagues.

It is also the only correct decision to avoid any distraction from the important work at hand in Washington. I intend to go forward with new resolve and love of family, the State of Oregon, and our nation.”

Previously, Wu spokesman, Erik Dorey, said, “He’s still determining his political future, but he will not run for re-election. He’s fully focused on fulfilling his elected duties and serving his constituents to the best of his duties here in the House.”

Nearly all the public pressure on Wu to step down was coming from his home state rather than Capitol Hill. Mary Botkin, a former Democratic National Committee committeewoman from Portland, joined those calling for his resignation. She said she has known Wu since the 1980s but that his credibility was “so severely damaged” that he should resign.

State Democrats said they expect a state senator, Suzanne Bonamici of Beaverton, to join the two candidates already in the primary race, Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian and state Rep. Brad Witt of Clatskanie. Potential Republican nominees include sports marketing businessman Rob Cornilles, who lost to Wu last year, three state legislators and two tea party candidates from last year’s primary.

The 1st Congressional District, located in Oregon’s northwest corner, has been reliably Democratic since the mid-1970s. New boundaries approved this year by the state Legislature are expected to provide a small boost to Republicans.

Democratic Representative David Wu Resigns Amid Sex AllegationsWu was guaranteed a stiff primary challenge after seven staffers resigned in January because of unusual behavior that included an angry public speech and a photo of himself in a tiger costume that he sent to a staff member. Wu attributed his actions to a period of mental health challenges that began in 2008 as marital issues led to separation from his wife.

Those problems paled compared to the potential fallout from the encounter with an 18-year-old California woman. Citing anonymous sources, The Oregonian reported that Wu told senior aides that the sexual encounter was consensual. The Portland paper reported Facebook notes indicated she graduated from high school in 2010 and she registered to vote in California last August.

The paper said the woman decided not to press charges against Wu because there were no witnesses and it would have been her word against Wu’s.

It took several days before the scandal that enveloped former Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., turned into a media frenzy. Wu could still face such a development if more information surfaces. But he was largely absent from lawmakers’ public comments Monday.

Democratic leaders held a news conference to discuss the debt ceiling and the economy, and Wu’s name did not come up once. Republicans also focused their attention on the debt ceiling, with no GOP leaders calling publicly for Wu to resign.

Wu, 56, has won seven terms. In 2004, he won despite acknowledging a decades-old college incident in which he tried to force a former girlfriend to have sex. Voters said they disliked an opponent’s attempt to use that against Wu as part of a political campaign.

This is a breaking news story. Stay tuned for updates.

Comments (75)

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  • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
    Posted on July 26, 2011 at 1:14pm

    Yep, this has been coming for a while for tiger-boy. I guess it finally got to him. Sounds like he has a history of rape.

    Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
      Posted on July 26, 2011 at 1:19pm

      oh come on ppl, what 18 year old female would not like a piece of that action? :)

      Report Post »  
    • Shiroi Raion
      Posted on July 26, 2011 at 1:47pm

      Perverts, racists, idiots and megalomaniacs seem to congregate into congress. Surely this cannot be representative ratio on society. Less than 600 Congressmen and over a dozen are famous for crazy acts and idiotic messages and we know the media tries to hide it when Democrats do and say stupid and insane things. I imagine that there‘s more of them that we don’t know about.

      Report Post » Shiroi Raion  
    • Rational Man
      Posted on July 26, 2011 at 3:14pm

      Take your tiger jammies and go home to your progressive home freak boy!
      This doesn’t speak well of Oregon

      Report Post » Rational Man  
    • OregonConservative
      Posted on July 26, 2011 at 3:48pm

      As a Conservative Oregonian I say yeah and good riddance to Mr. Wu. There are many more conservatives in Oregon than the country realizes and we are certainly not all mindless granola-eating hippies as the media might suggest. Mr. Wu definitely did not represent the values and principals of a great number of us and his departure is a welcome relief. It is unfortunate that as Oregon’s representative, he has sullied the reputation of this beautiful state. Hopefully, Sens Wyden and Merkley will be next to leave.

      Report Post »  
    • godlovinmom
      Posted on July 26, 2011 at 4:05pm

      and kitzhaber…….still can’t believe our state re-elected him, he was a failure the first go around…Portland, Salem. Eugene, Springfield all donot represent our values…they just run the show… and I HATE granola!

      Report Post » godlovinmom  
    • tower7femacamp
      Posted on July 27, 2011 at 2:51pm

      that will teach you to oppose the Patriot act and the NWO

      Report Post » tower7femacamp  
  • ULYSSESG
    Posted on July 26, 2011 at 1:11pm

    Just another FRIGGEN DIRBAG POLITICIAN…….LATER *******, OREGON WAKE UP

    Report Post » ULYSSESG  
  • trolltrainer
    Posted on July 26, 2011 at 1:10pm

    Hey, Beckisnuts, didn’t you have the matching Whinnie the Poo costume? I thought I saw you sneaking around my sheep pen a while back wearing it?

    What is it with you libs anyway?

    Report Post »  
  • jim
    Posted on July 26, 2011 at 1:04pm

    “Unwanted sexual encounter”… hmm… that should be simply classified as “rape.” Any sexual encounter, if “consensual,“ would have to be considered ”wanted.” To say, “unwanted” is to say that some type of protestation must have occurred. Even saying, “no,” by the victim constitutes rape, if the sexual encounter continues.

    Report Post » jim  
  • elosogrande
    Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:59pm

    Another moral degenerate who the taxpayers will be forced to support for the rest of his life, and his wife as well. It really is too much to ask.

    The piece of crap should be in jail – but he’s not. Why does Congress expect us to support them forever? I would like to hear one of them give The People a public explanation, telling us what they did for us that makes them and their spouses worthy of our generosity for the next thirty to fifty years.

    Most of them did nothing while in office. If they did do something, it was usually to the detriment of our country. Most are not worthy of the salary, much less a pension. We have to close up this free ride – it’s unsafe for America.

    Report Post »  
  • AvengerK
    Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:58pm

    Wu represents a district in Oregon…likely they’d have re-elected him and applauded his tiger costume as some kind of salute to diversity.
    On a brighter note…the GOP will control the redistricting that Rahm Emanuel tried so hard to get control of while he worked for Obama.

    Report Post »  
    • godlovinmom
      Posted on July 26, 2011 at 1:25pm

      Ya that district is Portland, which runs our state, believe me, southern Oregon DOES NOT like the sticking librals running our state!

      Report Post » godlovinmom  
    • godlovinmom
      Posted on July 26, 2011 at 3:06pm

      that is…“stinking librals”

      Report Post » godlovinmom  
  • Eric_The_Red_State
    Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:56pm

    I am from Portland – and this guy is NUTS.
    It is REPORTED that – He yells at his employees – he sends drunken emails at 3 in the morning – He wears Tigger outfits.
    And for some reason he beats qualified Republicans —-

    Oregon is NOT Liberal. If you look at a COUNTY MAP of voters it is almost a sheet of RED….. EXCEPT for PORTLAND. But Portland seems to carry a lot of weight (and Votes).

    I think he should NOT be allowed to resign. I think he should be made to stay in office as PUNISHMENT to the DEMOCRATS that elected this nutcase.

    Report Post » Eric_The_Red_State  
    • Seabee79
      Posted on July 26, 2011 at 1:00pm

      will ya Wu Wu me. wasn’t that a song years ago.

      Report Post » Seabee79  
    • Eric_The_Red_State
      Posted on July 26, 2011 at 1:14pm

      Van Morrison – :)

      Report Post » Eric_The_Red_State  
    • cosette
      Posted on July 26, 2011 at 1:28pm

      The reason the likes of this obvious predator win elections is because the electorate in your very BLUE state put politics over everything. I’m thoroughly convinced that, even if they found a dismembered corpse in Obamasshias’ underwear drawer, the brain dead koolade drinkers would vote for him. To wit, the misogynist – in chief, Bill Clinton, when exposed for the dirtbag he is, never lost an ounce of adulation lavished upon him by the “feminist” element, the very women you would expect to turn on him. You see, it’s ALL about the agenda. No morals, no core beliefs, no convictions!

      Report Post »  
  • AlansTigg
    Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:47pm

    so disturbing, probably going to have nightmares about that pic

    Report Post » AlansTigg  
  • Locket
    Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:46pm

    David Wu, and Tigger too. What a guy! Oregon, wake up, and start electing decent officials.

    Report Post »  
  • glennisright.com
    Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:44pm

    Ah, now he can join the cast of the new “Winnie the Pooh” movie.

    Report Post » glennisright.com  
  • Dismayed Veteran
    Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:44pm

    What is it with politicians? Why can’t they keep their _____ in their pants? And, why are they so enamored with sending really strange photos to people?

    Report Post » Dismayed Veteran  
  • nysparkie
    Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:44pm

    This guy is the spitting image of the Gay guy that owned the bar in Good Morning Vietnam with Robin Williams: Cu Ba Nguyen, as a Saigon bar-owner with a most singular sexual preference (From – http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9B0DE0D8173FF930A15751C1A961948260

    Report Post » nysparkie  
  • Ron_WA
    Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:43pm

    As a nation we were probably much better off w/ Wu in that seat.

    That Congressional District is very, very liberal & always votes Democrat. Wu was an ineffective nut job who was never able to get anything of consequence done – he was so far left he sometimes didn’t vote w/ the Dem caucus ‘cuz it wasn’t liberal enough.

    99% certain another Dem will fill that seat & the bad news of that is the next guy might even be effective.

    Report Post » Ron_WA  
    • Docrow
      Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:58pm

      This is why Nancy Pelosi wanted him to resign.

      Report Post » Docrow  
  • concealled9mms
    Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:40pm

    Wow a new playmate for anthony weiner

    Report Post »  
  • nysparkie
    Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:39pm

    Congress is loaded with the most vile and evil persons this country has. That bed of dishonesty needs to have its a r s e kicked out. Every last one of them. I don’t know about you but I have voted against Louise Slaughter for 14 years, since I moved into her and before her John Lafalce’s district. Awful persons are occupying congress, just plain drunk on the power and influence. Thinking they are so high and mighty. Give everyone of them a shock treatment. VOTE ALL DA BUMS OUT!

    Report Post » nysparkie  
  • banjarmon
    Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:38pm

    bub bub buy!

    Report Post » banjarmon  
  • netmail
    Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:35pm

    “Unwanted sexual encounter”?? That’s attempted rape at least. I suppose “resigning” is considered punishment enough for this pig. I think NOT. BUT, I‘m pretty sure we’ll chock this one up as yet another example of justice being denied in our sick culture.

    Report Post »  
  • welovetheUSA
    Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:35pm

    Gun Owners Look at what Obama is up to……..
    http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2011/07/26/democrats-oppose-obama-un-gun-control-treaty?msg=1

    Report Post » welovetheUSA  
  • UBETHECHANGE
    Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:33pm

    Another marxist bites the dust. Yay!

    Report Post »  
  • hauschild
    Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:32pm

    Another shining example of liberalism falls by the wayside.

    He’ll be replaced with another dirt bag.

    Report Post »  
  • USACommoner
    Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:29pm

    Term limits. Ick, ugh, and ewwwww.

    Report Post » USACommoner  
  • teddrunk
    Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:29pm

    It’s Oregon. They will only vote in another Democrat dirt bag.

    Report Post »  
  • Obama Bin Lying
    Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:24pm

    Another rat drained from the swamp….right Nancy?

    Report Post » Obama Bin Lying  
    • ConstitutionalPatriot
      Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:31pm

      The Dem’s want him gone!!! ….But…. Not until we…. uummm…. get the ….uuummm…. votes to pass OUR debit ceiling plan. This is …..uuummmm…. how serious we are about getting rid of immoral politicians.

      Report Post » ConstitutionalPatriot  
  • I.Gaspar
    Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:22pm

    Woo Hoo, Wu!
    One less dirtbag trying to run us into the ground.

    Report Post »  
  • 8jrts
    Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:22pm

    Good. Looks like god is sorting them out.

    Report Post » 8jrts  
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