Pelosi and Wasserman Schultz said Saturday Weiner should resign, calling his sending explicit photos and raunchy emails to women all over the country "indefensible" and a distraction.
"Congressman Weiner has the love of his family, the confidence of his constituents, and the recognition that he needs help. I urge Congressman Weiner to seek that help without the pressures of being a Member of Congress," Pelosi said in a statement released Saturday afternoon.
Wasserman Schultz called Weiner's continued service in Congress "untenable," and added that "this sordid affair has become an unacceptable distraction."
It’s unclear how long Weiner will be away from Congress or what type of treatment he is receiving.
“Congressman Weiner departed this morning to seek professional treatment to focus on becoming a better husband and healthier person,” said his spokeswoman, Risa Heller. “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.”
Ms. Pelosi and other Democratic leaders were deeply worried about Mr. Weiner’s scheduled return to Washington this week, after a Congressional recess. To say Weiner had become a political distraction for Democrats would be the understatement of the year. Pressure has been building all week long, with the report on Friday that Mr. Weiner corresponded on Twitter with a 17-year-old girl.