4:52 p.m. -- Weiner walks away from podium to end the press conference as one reporter tosses up lewd questions about a lovechild and erections.
House Ethics guidelines could give Weiner's colleagues an opportunity to reprimand the New York congressman. Weiner apologizes and says that he "accepts responsibility," but refuses to resign.
When former Rep. Christopher Lee, R, resigned after his emailed shirtless photos surfaced on Gawker, Republican leadership demanded his resignation. I'm anxious to see what kind of standards Democratic leadership will set for Weiner.
4:49 p.m. -- Weiner admits that he kept his staff in the dark about his extracurricular activities as well, saying they only learned the full story this afternoon as well.
"At the end of the day, I lied because I was embarrassed," he says. "I did not want to get caught." Over the last 3 years, Weiner admits to at least 6 elicit online relationships.
Breitbart did not stick around for the press conference to ask questions -- instead, is appearing on Sean Hannity's radio program.
4:31 p.m. -- Weiner's wife does not join him at the podium, though the congressman insists they will stay together. Generally, the congressman says, the women who he engaged with were women he "met on Facebook."
"This was a dumb thing to do, a destructive thing to do," he says.
As dumb and destructive as it was, I'm not guying Weiner's apologies -- he clearly wasn't sorry when he a) engaged in the behavior last week and b) accused others of trying to ruin his career when the photos initially came to light. In my personal opinion, Weiner is sorry he got caught.
Legally, I don't think there's any wrongdoing on Weiner's part, but today's admission does explain why federal authorities were not brought in to investigate the alleged "hacking." The only criminal charges that could come out of this would be if Weiner sent pornographic images to a minor. He insists, to the best of his knowledge, all of the recipients were of legal age.
"I never violated the rules of the House," he says.
"I am deeply regretting what I have done. I am not resigning," Weiner says.
Because the circus that is "Weinergate" can no longer be ignored today, I feel the need to weigh in.
4:25 p.m. -- Rep. Anthony Weiner finally takes the podium after conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart took questions from the press.
"I have made terrible mistakes that have hurt the people I care about the most and I am deeply sorry."
Weiner admits photo sent last Friday was sent from him and that he "panicked" and lied that his account had been hacked. "To be clear, the picture was of me and I sent it," he said as his voiced cracked with emotion.
Additionally, Weiner admits to engaging in a number of inappropriate relationships with women over the phone and online. For the most part, the relationships took place before his marriage, but admitted that some have taken place since he married last year.
"I am deeply ashamed of my actions."
