David Wu to resign in wake of sex allegations

Rep. David Wu (D-Ore.) announced Tuesday he would resign from Congress, following allegations of sexual misconduct with a teenager.

Last week, the Oregonian newspaper reported that the teenage daughter of a Wu associate called the congressman’s office earlier this year to accuse him of an “unwanted sexual encounter” over Thanksgiving. Wu, 56, acknowledged the incident but said it was consensual, the paper reported.

After the story broke, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called for a formal ethics investigation.

On Tuesday, Wu, a seven-term Democrat, said he would resign his post in Congress, which he called “the greatest privilege of my life” in a statement.

He said his resignation would not be effective immediately, but rather “upon the resolution of the debt-ceiling crisis” that has gripped Washington.

“I cannot care for my family the way I wish while serving in Congress and fighting these very serious allegations,” Wu said in a statement. “The wellbeing of my children must come before anything else.”

The sex scandal is the second in as many months to plague Democrats in Congress. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) stepped down from office in June after he admitted to sending lewd photos to several women online.