Pelosi Breaks Silence, Calls for Ethics Investigation of Dem. Rep. Wu After Sex Allegations
- Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:22am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi has requested an ethics panel investigation of Rep. David Wu over a woman’s reported accusation that she had an “unwanted sexual encounter” with the Oregon Democrat last year.
Pelosi issued a statement Sunday night calling on the Republican-led House’s “Ethics Committee to initiate an investigation into the allegations against Congressman Wu.” Politico reports:
“I call on the Ethics Committee to initiate an investigation into the allegations against Congressman Wu,” Pelosi said in a statement released after Wu’s decision to stay put. “With deep disappointment and sadness about this situation, I hope that the Ethics Committee will take up this matter.”
Pelosi said she would send a letter to the Ethics Committee on Monday “asking them to formally initiate a review of this matter.”
Wu and Pelosi had a telephone conversation Saturday but neither politician has disclosed any details.
Despite calls for his resignation, Wu kept publically silent Sunday. But The Oregonian posted a Washington-dated story on its website late Sunday with a senior Democrat official, who wasn’t further identified, confirming to the paper that Wu said he would not resign but would complete his term and retire in 2012.
The comment was similar to a report in Washington-based Politico, which quoted an unnamed adviser to Wu as saying he wouldn’t run next year but had done nothing that rises to the level of a resignation.
Wu’s spokesman Erik Dorey declined to comment on the Politico report. He also said he couldn‘t respond immediately to Pelosi’s call for a probe, but that Wu might make a statement Monday.
A Democrat who has challenged Wu in next year’s primary, state Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian, said Wu should see Pelosi’s calls for an ethics investigation as a signal to step down immediately.
“An ethics investigation would result in a long drawn-out distraction and prolong the public pain” for the unidentified woman who has accused Wu, Avakian said through his spokesman, Jake Weigler. “For the sake of our community and this young woman and her family, as well as his own family, David Wu should do the right thing and step aside now.”
Another Wu challenger in the Democratic primary, state Rep. Brat Witt, said an ethics investigation is needed so “we get to the bottom of the allegations and determine what the facts are.”
Wu’s only response so far has been a brief statement late Friday: “This is very serious, and I have absolutely no desire to bring unwanted publicity, attention or stress to a young woman and her family.”
Oregon Democrats have been waiting for word on how Wu plans to respond further to the allegation and the resignation calls.
Spokesmen for both Gov. John Kitzhaber and the statewide party organization said Wu hadn’t reached out to top Democrats in Oregon.
“At this point, I don’t believe those conversations have happened,” said Trent Lutz, executive director of the state party.
Lutz and other party members said they hoped Wu would respond directly to the allegation reported by the Oregonian newspaper. The paper quoted sources who said a young woman left voicemail at Wu‘s Portland office earlier this year accusing him of an unwanted sexual encounter three weeks after last year’s election.
Citing anonymous sources, The Oregonian reported that Wu told senior aides that the sexual encounter with the young woman in California was consensual. The paper reported Facebook notes indicate she graduated from high school in 2010 and that she registered to vote in California last August.
The paper said the woman decided not to press changes because there were no witnesses and it would have been her word against Wu’s.
The newspaper said its information came from multiple sources familiar with the allegation.
In Wu’s district stretching from downtown Portland to the Pacific Ocean in northwest Oregon, county-level leaders said they, too, were hoping for more from Wu.
“I’m waiting for more details to come out,” said Cris Land, party chair in Columbia County.
The heart of the 1st Congressional District is Washington County, a center of high tech and suburban development and the home of David Robinson, a former Navy officer and municipal official who lost by a margin of 4-1 to Wu in the Democratic primary last year. Wu faces primary challengers next year, as well.
Robinson said Sunday he will ask fellow activists in Washington County on Wednesday to approve a vote of no confidence in Wu, calling the woman’s allegation “just another in a long line of disappointments and improprieties.”
Wu 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.
In January this year, seven staffers resigned because of behavior that included sending a photo of himself in a tiger costume to a staff member and an angry public speech. Wu attributed those to a period of mental health challenges that began in 2008 as marital issues led to separation from his wife.
—
Associated Press writers Terrence Petty and Nigel Duara in Portland, Ore., contributed to this report. Kevin Freking reported from Washington, D.C.
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Comments (61)
elosogrande
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 10:03amPelosi waited more than a year to bring this out into the open. Was she hoping it would blow over, and another Democrat would get a free pass?
Get rid of Wu – get rid of Pelosi. Republican or Democrat, people have to start using there heads and get ALL of the crap out of Washington.
Report Post »I_Object
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 10:59amThis is a smokescreen, this call for Wu’s resignation. IMO – Nancy is only calling for Wu’s head to distract everyone from the others in congress who deserve investigation and re-image herself as some champion of ethics… The sex scandals are great for use in obfuscation and misdirection in the media. No calls for any of these congressmen/women who have some very shady dealings about stuff that’s way more important than yet another sex scandal.
Report Post »OhSuzieQ
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 12:11pm200% agreed Elosogrande!!!!
Report Post »Mainer forever
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 9:53amToo little too late Nancy!!!
Report Post »LDSmommy
Posted on July 27, 2011 at 12:33amAmen!
Report Post »LadyIzShy
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 9:53amhow can congress open and ethical hearing if NONE of them are ethical..
Report Post »Ken
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 11:40amGood question, albeit rhetorical! But in Nancy’s words: “It’s time to drain the swamp!”
Report Post »jacobstroubles
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 9:13amWho’s Nancy Pelosi? Is she anybody to be concerned about?
Report Post »turkey13
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 9:29amLaugh all you want to but Nancy with her under the table dealings and knowing where the bodies are buried made almost $5 million $$$$$ last year. It is the other Democrats and some Republicans that have brown noses and in some cases completly brown faces. This woman really knows how to play everyone else and the Ameroican public. She has been promising the world to African Anmericans for over 30 years and still gets away with it without delivering.
Report Post »matt708
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 9:04amPelosi needs to investigae herseld nad Reid for Voter fraud
Report Post »Uncle Sammy
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 8:55amShe reminds me of the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz… I’m melting ! I’m melting !. When the D’s lost the House under her watch, history dictated that they would choose a new minority leader and that it would not be the former majority leader who presided over their defeat. Remember the vote on TARP ? Remember how queen Nancy comes to the microphone and lambasted the R’s and the markets dropped 800 or so points in a matter of minutes ? I do. Nancy was personally responsible for the destruction of billions of paper value in our retirement accounts. Personally responsible. If we don’t forget, if we hold true; after the next election, the D’s will not have deciding control over our government for a generation. Nancy needs to be investigated. Reid, Dodd and Frank need to be investigated. BHO needs to be investigated. After the investigation, if it is an honest one; they all need to go to jail. WIll it happen ? Not likely; but not impossible either.. much hangs on the next election. What we are seeing is the arrogance of shamelessness drunk with the illusion of power.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 8:38amWell, one more rotton apple is discovered among the load of them; another one that needs a full set of house cleaning and a resignation to clear the way — go away like Weiner and just resign for once. No need to drag it out any further than it already is.
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 8:35amThe headline should have read Pelosi breaks neck,the progressive filthy leech that it is.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 8:32amYou had four years to “drain the swamp” Nancy. Wasn’t that enough time? Too bad, that’s all you get, we’ll drain it now.
Report Post »tobywil2
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 8:28amI wonder what new attack on our freedom this sexual misadventure is being used to hide! http://commonsense21c.com/
Report Post »anthrax13
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:57amFind the worst part of town with whores and drug vermin put expensive suits and dresses on them, give them body guards and bigger cars and houses and you have world leaders and bankers.
Pimp=Congressman
Report Post »Crack Whore=Congresswoman
Section 8 Housing= White House
Crack Dealers= Bankers
Secret Service= Armed Drug Dealers
Head of Crack Gang= President
Food Stamps= Bail Out
Housing Vouchers= Fake Mortgages
Drugs= Gold
Music/Most of it telling the truth about our leaders and society= Leaders lies
Any Questions?
kickagrandma
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:56amWelllll, ex-cuuuuuse me, nancyp!
While you are at it, let’s just investigate each one of you, beginning with you and your sidekick mr wimpy harry reid! Then, let’s get to the black folks in congress who are soooooooooooooo irresponsibly vocal about the race card so no one will look toooooooooooo closely at them. Ooooooh, feel the heat, nancy? al sharpton ring a bell? charlie rangle? shirley jackson lee? Let’s see…..hmmmmm. That should keep you “too busy” to meddle in WE THE PEOPLE’s affairs.
Report Post »OhSuzieQ
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 12:18pmkickagrandma
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:56am
Welllll, ex-cuuuuuse me, nancyp!
While you are at it, let’s just investigate each one of you, beginning with you and your sidekick mr wimpy harry reid! Then, let’s get to the black folks in congress who are soooooooooooooo irresponsibly vocal about the race card so no one will look toooooooooooo closely at them. Ooooooh, feel the heat, nancy? al sharpton ring a bell? charlie rangle? shirley jackson lee? Let’s see…..hmmmmm. That should keep you “too busy” to meddle in WE THE PEOPLE’s affairs.
~GREAT post!!
Report Post »I SPY
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:56amThis is just more Pelosi smoke and mirrors.
Report Post »GeorgieJo
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 8:01amMe thinks Nancy Peelooski AVOIDS mirrors……………
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:56am“THEY AIN’T GOT ENOUGH-TIME TO TAKE THE COUNTRY BACK FROM THEM-FULL “…yes, always an impressive way to get people to notice your post is, besides capitalizing everything, is the writing of sentences that makes one think you quit school after third grade.
Report Post »Obama_Sham
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:55am“Pelosi Breaks Silence”
When did the wicked witch of the west stop speaking?!?
Report Post »pwatkins
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:45amThe swamp will not be drained until Pelosi herself walks through the door on her way home arm in arm with her Hollywierd idol, Obama.
Report Post »Fina Biscotti
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:44amWu appears to be on LSD in the photo.
Pelosi is on Botox – and did not notice Wu’s mental condition – although SEVEN of his staff members resigned bc of his behavior…..
Report Post »busterpuddles
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:42amThere seems to be quite a bit going on with the dems these days.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:42amThe dems have more weiner problems……
Report Post »busterpuddles
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:41am@ ANTHRAX13:
Can we post without using all caps? First it’s run on, no punctuation, no capitalization sniveling brought on first by IMs, then email, now texting. When will we return to ‘English’?
Report Post »Obama Bin Lying
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:32amWait a minute, I thought Bella Pelosie drained the swamp?….don’t tell me she missed a few rats and snakes. Most ethical congress ever…HAHAHAHAHA
Report Post »GBMBulletsSKNRD
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:36amO come on now he is just your typical Dem. leave the poor manchild alone.
Report Post »kuhl
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:32amInteresting the first comment by those caught in ethics violations or outright illegal activity is “I will not resign’. Seemed to work well for Clinton, so I guess that is the new standard.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:32amElection time is drawing near and apparently Nancy has read her favorite word, “the Word”, and developed a moral (I can only use the singular version as that is still probably the only one we will see). Hopefully the voters in CA have figured out she is a loser when it comes to their economic situation and will vote her out in 2012. As for Wu, what took them so long? (rhetorical question of course)
Report Post »Fina Biscotti
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:42amUnfortunately, Pelosi was re-elected in the 2010 midterm elections.
Pelosi refused to participate in any debates.
20% of the “waivers” for Obamacare came from Pelosi’s congressional district.
Something should be done about that – bc Pelosi gave something of value in exchange for votes.
Report Post »Living In NYC
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:30amWell Nancy you really have “Drained the Swamp”……NOT!
Report Post »Marcobob69
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:41amIf Pelosi really DID “drain the swamp”, there wouldn’t be many BODIES LEFT in said swamp! Corruption runs rampant in Washington, hell they ALL think they are above the law and can do ANYTHING they damn well please! We conservatives knew it was just LIP SERVICE when Queen Nancy said she was going to do it!
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:30amIf this Wu creep had been a Republican this story would be on every minute on MSNBC. He probably won’t need to worry in Oregon. The people their think anything is OK.
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