‘Weird’ Weiner: An ethical lapse or clearly mental case?

NEW YORK—The matter of the unclothed US congressman, Anthony D. Weiner of New York, is being lodged by Democratic Party elders with the House ethics committee, a holding room where the case will remain until either it, or he, goes away.

Those elders must be hoping to heaven that Weiner departs before the machinery of investigation is gassed up and rumbles toward the Internet Protocol addresses where he composed his epistles.

If Weiner sent lewd pictures of himself to strangers from a government-issued computer and not from his personal BlackBerry as he had claimed, then this may constitute unethical behavior.

Still, ethics hardly seems the right discipline for this affair. Psychiatry might help, according to some people close to Weiner.

‘Mental illness’

A longstanding political friend of the 46-year-old Weiner and his wife, Huma Abedin, said on Tuesday that he was trying to come to grips with the congressman’s recklessness.

“If you look at the sin—is it public or is it private—it’s private,” said the friend, who did not want to be identified. “But you go beyond sin, this is mental illness. It’s strange.”

During a tense telephone call with Weiner, during which he apologized, Democratic Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez of Brooklyn scolded the rising star of her political party: “How can you explain that somebody can be so smart but so stupid?”

Even though Weiner knew he was being watched on the Internet, he kept up his stream of lewd communications with strangers, people who identified themselves as women.

Less than a month ago, he told a reporter for The New York Times that he knew that his own behavior was bound to be scrutinized.

In fact, conservative bloggers, led by an individual identified as @PatriotUSA76, were tracking his Twitter account so carefully that they sent warnings to women who were being followed online by Weiner to be wary of him. (See story on this page.)

Emotional state

Asked about Weiner’s emotional state, his spokesperson referred to his comments at the news conference on Monday, when the congressman, weeping, said that he could not explain his behavior, but that he intended to keep his seat in Congress.

Weiner admitted during the tearful news conference that he had sent suggestive photographs and messages to at least six women and had repeatedly lied to cover up his actions.

Democratic colleagues who spoke with Weiner later described him as not sounding like himself: He expressed deep remorse for his actions and, at times, became choked up.

“He was embarrassed,” Rep. Edolphus Towns of New York recalled. “He is trying to pick up the pieces and move on.”

‘That’s weird’

New details of Weiner’s online interactions with the women suggested he was the one pushing the conversations into intimate territory.

In an interview on “Good Morning America,” one of the women, Meagan Broussard, said it was Weiner who quickly initiated an exchange via instant messaging and sent racy photos to her.

“It wasn’t like I was chasing him, at all,” she said.

Broussard said she first wrote on Weiner’s Facebook page in April, after being impressed by one of his speeches. “He sent me a friend request the same day,” she said. “I just thought, that’s weird.”

As Weiner reeled from revelations of salacious online behavior, Republicans called for his resignation, while Democratic leaders distanced themselves from him.

“I don’t condone his activity, and I think he should resign,” said Republican Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, the House majority leader.

Scant support

Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, the House minority leader, was said to be particularly upset with Weiner, who waited until 15 minutes before his news conference on Monday to inform her, by phone, about his explicit online communications with women.

And rather than engage in a discussion about resigning, he instead told Pelosi that he would keep his seat.

At an appearance in Washington on Tuesday, the top Senate Democrat, Harry Reid of Nevada, said he could not overlook Weiner’s conduct.

“I know Congressman Weiner,” Reid said. “I wish there was some way I can defend him, but I can’t.”

Expressions of support from other Democrats, many of whom have long grumbled about Mr. Weiner’s chest-thumping, go-it-alone style, were likewise conspicuously scant.

Respondents split

A poll released on Tuesday, however, found that about half of New York City voters think Weiner should hang onto his congressional seat.

But most of the 379 respondents to the survey, which had a sampling error of plus or minus 5 percentage points, say they want him to stay out of the race to succeed Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2013.

The Marist Poll found 51 percent said Weiner should remain in Congress, while 30 percent said he should step down, and 18 percent said they weren’t sure.

But 56 percent said Weiner should not run for mayor, while 25 percent said he should. Nineteen percent said they were unsure.

More forgiving

Unlike many in the political world, Weiner’s constituents seem to be more forgiving.

Judith Shapiro said Weiner’s steadfast service to his constituents outweighed his online flirtations and deceptions.

“Remember, he has broken no laws,” Shapiro said. “He has not used campaign funds. He has not done anything because, basically, he’s a very ethical man. He’s a good man.”

Weiner, an outspoken liberal congressman, insisted he had done nothing illegal and said he would fully cooperate with a House inquiry.

“People who draw conclusions about me are free to do so,” Weiner said. “I’ve worked for the people of my district for 13 years and in politics for 20 years and I hope they see fit to see this in the light that it is.” Reports from New York Times News Service and AP