Weiner resigns from Congress
After 20 years in politics, embattled congressman Rep.
Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) resigned June 16 after political pressure from fellow politicians.
“I had hoped to be able to
continue the work that the citizens of my district elected me to do — to fight
for the middle class and those struggling to make it,” he said at a press conference.
“Unfortunately, the distraction
that I have created has made that impossible," he added. "So today I’m announcing my
resignation from Congress.”
Weiner, 46, who many believed had
a chance of being the next mayor of New York City before he got caught up in a sexting scandal, focused
on his middle-class roots during the statement.
His background is similar to that of many of his constituents in the 9th Congressional District, which covers parts of southern Brooklyn and south central Queens.
Weiner attended public schools in Brooklyn, his mother was a teacher, and his father
went to law school on the GI Bill.
“There is no higher honor in a democracy than being sent by
your neighbors to represent them in the U.S. House of Representatives,” he said. “The middle-class story of New
York is my story, and I’m very proud of that.”
Twenty years ago, Weiner asked his
neighbors to support his run for New York City Council, and seven years later, he ran for
Congress.
During the statement, Weiner focused
on the future, saying, “My colleagues can get
back to work, my neighbors can choose a new representative, and most importantly,
my wife and I can continue to heal from the damage I have caused.”
About the Author
Alysha Sideman is the online content producer for Washington Technology.