HOME TURF: Constituents at a restaurant on Austin Street in Forest Hills view Weiner’s resignation yesterday. (Ellis Kaplan)
The political death of Anthony Weiner yesterday came complete with a legislative wake.
After weeks on life support, Weiner finally pulled the plug on a congressional career stained by a lurid sexting scandal. And from Capitol Hill to New York, reaction from pols had a funereal feel.
“Despite his personal problems, Congressman Weiner was an extremely effective lawmaker who had a positive impact on his constituents and the nation as a whole,” said Rep. Ed Towns (D-Brooklyn). “His voice will be missed.”
VOTE: WHICH WEINER POST PAGE 1 IS YOUR FAVORITE?
Congressional comrades, many of whom had pushed for Weiner to resign, yesterday toned down their rhetoric and greeted the news of the shamed lawmaker’s departure with words like “closure” and “healing.”
“There is a life after Congress, and I hope he spends as much time as he can focusing on his family,” said Rep. Nita Lowey (D-White Plains).
But no colleague’s comments carried more weight than those of House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, who virtually held the door open for Weiner’s exit.
“Today, with the love of his family, the confidence of his constituents and the recognition of his need for help, Congressman Weiner has announced that he will resign from Congress,” Pelosi said in a statement.
“Congressman Weiner exercised poor judgment in his actions and poor judgment in his reaction to the revelations. Today he made the right judgment in resigning. I pray for him and his family and wish them well.”
Rep. Steve Israel (D-LI), who was also instrumental in pushing Weiner out, said he spoke with his disgraced colleague the day before the decision.
“He was as firm as I’d heard him in two weeks,” Israel said. “The only kind of recovery that Anthony Weiner is concerned about is not a political recovery. It is his personal recovery.”
The most painful reaction, perhaps came from Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), Weiner’s political mentor.
Schumer hired Weiner as an intern and political aide, then endorsed Weiner’s 1998 candidacy to succeed Schumer in the House.
“On this sad day, we should not forget that Anthony Weiner was an effective and passionate advocate for the people he represented in Brooklyn and Queens,” Schumer said in a statement. “He has served his community, city and country well for over two decades. I wish him, [wife] Huma and his family only the best.”