Anthony Weiner's Leaked X-Rated Photo Adds Pressure for Resignation
More Democrats call on Weiner to step down for inappropriate behavior and lying.
June 9, 2011— -- An X-rated photo sent by Rep. Anthony Weiner to a Texas woman last month that has surfaced on the Internet is exposing the embattled congressman to further personal embarrassment and increased pressure to resign.
Conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart, who first published details of Weiner's secret double life on Biggovernment.com, showed the photo on his smartphone to hosts of the Sirius XM radio program "The Opie and Anthony Show" Wednesday during an in-studio interview.
Snapshots of Breitbart's phone displaying the erect penis later appeared on the website Gawker, though it's unclear how they were obtained. Breitbart, who had previously said he would not release the photo, apologized for the leak, which he called unintentional.
ABC News independently obtained a copy of the same explicit image from Meagan Broussard, one of the women with whom Weiner had risque online chats. Email records show Broussard received the photo, along with several others, on May 18 from an email address used by Weiner.
View an exclusive slideshow of images obtained by ABC News.
"As Representative Weiner said on Monday when he took responsibility for his actions, he has sent explicit photos," Weiner spokeswoman Risa B. Heller said in a statement when asked about the explicit photo.
"To reiterate, he has never met any of these women or had physical contact with them. As he said, he deeply regrets the pain he has caused," she said. "With the full support of his wife, he is working on righting these wrongs with his family and his colleagues."
Despite his efforts, a growing number of Democrats -- including two former chairmen of the party -- have called on him to resign.
"This picture puts it over the limit," former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell told MSNBC of the explicit image that appeared online. "He has no choice but to resign."
Former Virginia Gov. and ex-DNC Chairman Tim Kaine called for Weiner to resign on Tuesday and was quickly joined by at least nine other members of his party, including Reps. Allyson Schwartz of Pennsylvania, Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Niki Tsongas of Massachusetts, Mike Ross of Arkansas, Larry Kissell of North Carolina and Michael Michaud of Maine.
"Having the respect of your constituents is fundamental for a Member of Congress," Schwartz, who holds a top post with the Democratic Campaign Committee, said in a statement. "In light of Anthony Weiner's offensive behavior online, he should resign."
Sen. Mark Pryor of Arkansas and Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont became the first Democratic senators to call for Weiner's resignation.
"It would be fine with me if he did," Pryor said when asked if Weiner should step down. "I mean, ultimately that's up to him and his constituents and his family, but I think at this point it would probably be a good thing if he would go ahead and resign."
Meanwhile, top House Democratic leaders are keeping silent on the issue, as Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has requested an ethics investigation into the scandal.
Aside from briefly reiterating to reporters Tuesday evening that he will not be resigning, Weiner has not made any public comments since his press conference on Monday.
When asked whether Weiner is considering resignation, an aide close to Weiner told ABC News, "That's not where his heads at. He says he isn't resigning."
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