The question on everyone’s mind in Washington right now is whether or not Rep. Anthony Weiner, New York Democrat, can politically survive the #Weinergate scandal. Many are speculating he’ll resign, and the Democratic Party’s leadership, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz haven’t been out front defending him.
Conservative publisher Andrew Breitbart said he thinks Weiner’s future is already foretold. “I think that last week the absence of his natural supporters from his side foretells what is going to happen next,” Breitbart told The Daily Caller. “I don’t think there’s a lot of support for him right now. What value he brought to the table right now has evaded as he can no longer serve his purpose due to his toxicity.”
Breitbart published much more evidence damning Weiner on Monday, and when TheDC asked if he had more, he said, “Oh yes.”
“I don’t have a definitive answer [as to specifically what’s next],” Breitbart said. “I’m going to meet with this woman [the anonymous woman who sent him photos and emails from Weiner] right now in person and we will decide how she wants to proceed.”
(#Weinergate: More come forward with lewd Weiner communications)
Breitbart hinted that he thinks Weiner’s political future looks grim at best.
“I believe that the elders of the Democratic Party will make a utilitarian decision [on whether to keep Weiner or not] based on whether or not he has any future as a warrior on behalf of the leftist cause,” he told TheDC. “I think that this decision was foretold when the party elders chose not to stand by him last week when his peril.”
Rep. Weiner has planned a press conference to address the ongoing scandal today at 4pm EST. This is a breaking news update. This story will continue to be updated.
4:00 p.m.
National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesman Brian Walsh asks where “detective” Chuck Schumer, Weiner’s mentor is:
“Given Senator Schumer’s emphatic statement last week that he was ‘virtually certain’ his protégé ‘had nothing to do’ with the recent lewd tweet sent to a 21 year old college student, his current silence over these most recent allegations is notable,” Walsh said. “Was this yet another instance where Chuck Schumer rushed out to the press armed with less than all the facts on an issue? Does he agree with his protégé’s assertion that a private investigation is required to determine whether or not that was him in the gray underwear? We look forward to hearing from New York’s media-friendly senior Senator in the hours ahead.”
4:01 p.m.
Andrew Breitbart tells TheDC he’s at the press conference.
4:06 p.m.
Breitbart took the podium at the Weiner press conference. He said he has another photo, but has “no intention to release that photo.”
4:08 p.m.
Breitbart: I’m not releasing that photo because “I’m protecting his [Weiner’s] family.
4:10 p.m.
Breitbart said he’s “trying to do the decent thing here and not release the photo.” But, if Weiner continues to pick on him, he may release it.
To reporter challenging whether the story is newsworthy, Breitbart said: “It is news, my friend.”
4:13 p.m.
This woman Breitbart is planning on coming forward “can get into the specifics of their relationship.”
4:19 p.m.
Townhall.com’s Guy Benson tweeted, reported via Fox News’s Eric Shawn, that a Weiner staffer reportedly ran through the halls of the Sheraton screaming “Breitbart is here.”
4:25 p.m.
Weiner takes the stage.
“I’d like to take full responsibility for my actions.”
Weiner admits to tweeting photo. Says it was a joke.
4:27 p.m.
“To be clear, the photo was of me and I sent it.”
Weiner admits to having communications with women online. Says he never met any of them.
Most were before he was married, he says, but some since then.
4:29 p.m.
“I am deeply regretting what I have done and I am not resigning.”
4:30 p.m.
“My primary regret goes to my wife. I should not have done this.”
4:31 p.m.
“My blackberry is not a government blackberry and my home computer is usually where I do these things.”
4:32 p.m.
Though his wife isn’t at presser with him, Weiner says, “I love my wife very much.” Says he no intention of splitting up.
4:33 p.m.
When reporter asks if he’d apologize to Andrew Breitbart, Weiner reeled off a list of people he wanted to apologize to including the “media.” He didn’t name Breitbart.
4:34 p.m.
“I didn’t see any of the pictures released today.”
He says he’s thinking about “next year’s election or the election after that.”
4:37 p.m.
“I believe that everyone that everyone deserves an apology.”
After reporter pushed him on whether he’d apologize to Breitbart, he finally said: “I apologize to Andrew Breitbart.”
4:38 p.m.
Weiner won’t say whether he had phone sex with the middle-aged woman from Nevada.
4:40 p.m.
“I don’t believe I did anything that violated any law.”
“I’ve never had sex outside my marriage.”
4:41 p.m.
Weiner says he spoke to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi before he came to presser.
4:42 p.m.
Weiner on the women he’s sent stuff to: “They’re all adults, at least to best of my knowledge.”
4:46 p.m.
After reporter asked Weiner if he could say with “certitude” none of the women were underage, he said: “I never had any intention of interacting with any underage women.” He added that he took them at their word, but can’t ever be sure on social media.
Weiner said he’s hasn’t broken any House rules or any laws.
4:49 p.m.
Weiner admits there is a “long list” of people who have been “harmed.”
4:50 p.m.
Weiner says his staff didn’t know the full story either.
4:53 p.m.
Someone was yelling at Weiner as he left the stage.
Watch below:
