18 Jun 2011

US politician resigns over lewd photo scandal

10:55 am on 18 June 2011

US congressman Anthony Weiner has resigned over a scandal in which he sent suggestive photographs of himself to young women over the internet.

Mr Weiner denied for more than a week that he had sent a photo of himself in underwear to a woman in Seattle on 28 May, claiming his Twitter account had been hacked.

But on 6 June he tearfully admitted that he had sent the image and that he had inappropriate exchanges with six women, some after he was married.

The 46-year-old New York Democrat has been married less than a year to Huma Abedin, 35, an aide to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Former President Bill Clinton officiated at their wedding last July.

The BBC says the resignation comes days after US President Barack Obama said he would quit if he were in Mr Weiner's position.

Mr Weiner had been regarded as a rising star in the Democratic Party and a possible prospect for the mayoralty of New York City.