New Photos Emerge In Weiner Sexting Scandal; Both Critics And Supporters Rally Outside Weiner's Office
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- With many leading Democrats calling for Anthony Weiner to resign over his controversial twittering of lewd photos of his privates parts to young women, the New York Democrat's hopes that might hold onto his seat - even as he took a temporary leave of absence to receive professional treatment - may have dimmed, as more photos surfaced Sunday.
On Sunday TMZ.com published new photos it had obtained of Weiner took of himself using his Blackberry and a mirror showing Weiner posing in front of mirrors in the House gym and, in some of them, grabbing his crotch. In one of the photos, Weiner is wearing nothing but a towel held over his groin with one hand on the towel and the other on his, well, crotch.
CBS News confirmed through Congressional sources that the backdrop of the pictures - which show Weiner shirtless, in a towel - is the House Members Gym, in the basement of the Rayburn House Office Building. Pictures were taken on the gym floor and in the locker room.
TMZ says the pictures were forwarded to at least one woman.
PHOTOS: More Explicit Weiner Photos Emerge (credit: TMZ)
On Sunday afternoon, constituents of the 9th Congressional District rallied outside of Rep. Anthony Weiner's Kew Gardens office Sunday to demand the embattled lawmaker step down.
About 20 people gathered outside Weiner's office to demand that the New York Democrat leave now, including members of the civic group, The Juniper Park Civic Association.
On its website, JPCA says the congressman has, "disgraced his constituents, his family and himself" and should resign immediately.
Sixty-one-year-old Jim Scott held a sign that said: "Weiner must resign today, today! Rehab tomorrow.'' Scott said Weiner "is not fit to be our congressman.''
Some signs said its time for the disgraced lawmaker to go, calling him a "porn Tweeter" and sporting pictures of him as Pinocchio.
"The lying, you don't lie. As a public official, if you don't have faith in a public official, who can you have faith in?" said Tom Lynch of Kew Gardens.
"He betrayed us all by doing something like that. We trusted him, and he did this," said Theresa Riley of Middle Village.
There was anger, with opponents both Democrat and Republican reminding everyone of the latest round of Weiner pictures.
"I got my congressman taking shots of his genitals. That's what's important to Anthony Weiner folks. It ain't about potholes, it's about his genitals," said Kevin Hiltunen of Bergen Beach.
The rally started as a call for Congressman Weiner's resignation, but several of his supporters arrived, shouting down these demonstrators.
"He makes votes in Congress right? He makes votes. Is that going to affect his vote making decisions? Is that going to affect how he represents this community?" said Edward Taylor of Kew Gardens.
Weiner's record is what many of his supporters are holding onto, but at the Puerto Rican Day Parade, there was little support from Governor Cuomo.
"It's all obviously very concerning and disturbing. This furthers the stigmatization of politicians," he said.
Weiner wasn't there to hear their calls. On Saturday, he announced he would be asking for a leave of absence from Congress so he could into treatment.
In a statement, Weiner's spokeswoman Risa Heller, said the congressman left Saturday morning, "to seek professional treatment to focus on becoming a better husband and healthier person. In light of that, he will request a short leave of absence from the House of Representatives so that he can get evaluated and map out a course of treatment to make himself well.''
The statement didn't say what type of treatment Weiner would be getting or where.
Before his announcement Saturday, several top Democrats, including House Democratic leader, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, called for his resignation, saying "I urge Congressman Weiner to seek that help without the pressures of being a member of Congress.''
Pelosi has also requested an ethics investigation of the sexting scandal.
Do you think Anthony Weiner should resign or is treatment enough? Sound off below in our comments section...
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