Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called for an ethics investigation of Representative David Wu.
Wu was accused this week of an unwanted sexual encounter last Thanksgiving with a young California teen and daughter of a longtime friend.
Earlier this year Wu shocked his staffers by sending them pictures of himself posing in a tiger costume. (NY Daily)
Rep. David Wu (D-OR) announced today that he won’t seek re-election.
The AP reported:
Rep. David Wu, facing an accusation of an unwanted sexual encounter with an 18-year-old woman and a request for an investigation by the House Ethics Committee, will not seek re-election next year and was pondering whether he would complete his term, a spokesman for the Oregon Democrat said Monday.
In a letter sent Monday, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi requested the Ethics Committee investigation. The Oregonian, Wu’s hometown newspaper, had reported that a California woman left a voicemail at Wu’s office accusing him on an unwanted sexual encounter. Wu, 56, has said the encounter was consensual.
A few hours after the investigation request, Wu spokesman Erik Dorey told The Associated Press: “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.”
Wu tried to keep a low profile Monday as lawmakers returned to work and focused their attention on the debate over raising the debt ceiling. Dorey, his communications director, noted that Wu took part in House votes.
Wu, in his seventh term, was guaranteed a stiff primary challenge after seven staffers resigned in January because of unusual behavior that included sending a photo of himself in a tiger costume to a staff member and an angry public speech. Wu attributed those actions to a period of mental health challenges that began in 2008 as marital issues led to separation from his wife.
