You may remember Oregon Democratic Rep. David Wu best for the creepy photo he sent to staffers during his 2010 re-election campaign of himself wearing a tiger costume. Or maybe you remember him for sending emails to his staff in the voice of his daughter. When the incidents made headlines and calls came for his resignation, Wu blamed the erratic behavior on stress.
Now Wu is in the news again, this time for an alleged sexual assault. (‘Tiger suit’ congressman trying to rehabilitate image?)
The Oregonian reports that Wu’s office received a voicemail from a young woman accusing the seven-term congressman of an unwanted sexual encounter. One person who heard the message described the caller as “distraught” and said she was breathing heavily.
The woman’s name hasn’t been released. But the Oregonian does say that the woman’s Facebook page indicates she graduated high school in 2010. She’s also a registered California voter, which would make her at least 18 years old.
Sources say the woman is the daughter of one of the congressman’s friends from high school.
Wu isn’t speaking to reporters. Instead, he released a one-sentence statement: “This is very serious, and I have absolutely no desire to bring unwanted publicity, attention, or stress to a young woman and her family.”
The woman and her family don’t want the attention either. The family refused to speak with a reporter at their home, and said through an attorney that “they are not interested in talking to” media.
Wu was also accused of sexual assault as a student at Stanford University. In 1976 an ex-girlfriend claimed Wu tried to force her to have sex with him.
Wu has filed papers for re-election in 2012.