Embattled Rep. Anthony Weiner reportedly has told friends he will resign from Congress, amid growing pressure from top Democrats after he admitted to having sexually charged relationships with women on Facebook and Twitter.
The New York Times and CNN are reporting the news, citing unnamed sources. The report also has been confirmed by the Associated Press.
It is possible that Weiner, a New York Democrat first elected in 1998, will speak publicly later this morning.
The New York lawmaker, once touted as a leading candidate for New York City mayor, has admitted sending lewd photos of himself and lying about it for several days. The online sex scandal has rocked the U.S. House for the past three weeks, distracting Democrats who had been trying to bring attention to GOP plans to revamp Medicare ahead of next year's elections.
CNN says Weiner called Rep. Steve Israel, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, of his plans last night.
House Democratic leaders were planning to meet today to discuss Weiner's fate and possibly oust him from his post on the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee if he continued to rebuff the calls to step down.
The House earlier this week granted Weiner a two-week leave of absence, after he said this weekend that he'll enter a treatment facility. The House ethics committee has also begin a preliminary inquiry into Weiner's actions.
Weiner decided to go into treatment after House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, national party chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and campaign chairman Steve Israel called on him to resign. President Obama also has said Weiner should step aside, saying the congressman has "embarrassed" himself.
Weiner reportedly told friends he was waiting for his wife, Huma Abedin, to return from an overseas work trip before deciding his next step. Abedin, an aide to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, returned early Wednesday.
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