Rep. Anthony Weiner Checks Himself Into Undisclosed Treatment Center, Will Request Leave of Absence

Maybe Rep. Anthony Weiner was paying attention Wednesday night when former Congressman Mark Foley told his story, because Weiner, 46, disclosed to a friend and former aide that he will enter a treatment program for sexual dysfunction and request a leave of absence from Congress.

Anthony Melorreia told Sunshine State News Saturday that Democrats were now putting intense pressure on Weiner to resign for sexting lewd messages and photographs of himself to women. "I don't know where he's checking into, he's playing that close to the vest," Melorreia said. "I just know the (Democratic) leadership is pushing him to do something fast. What they want, I think, is his resignation. I would be surprised if they accept his request for a leave."

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said in a written statement Saturday, "This sordid affair has become an unacceptable distraction for Representative Weiner, his family, his constituents and the House." She was urging Weiner to resign -- a turnaround from earlier in the week, when she wanted to stay out of it, let him decide.

Risa Heller, Weiner's press secretary, later confirmed Melorreia's comments. She said in a statement that her boss left early Saturday "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."

Following a scandal in 2006 during which Foley was sending sexually explicit e-mails to former pages, the West Palm Beach congressman did not request a leave of absence, he resigned -- but he did sign himself into a treatment center and never attempted to return to Washington.
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