Clyburn breaks with Dem leaders over calls for Weiner's resignation

The third-ranking House Democrat is breaking with party leaders who called for Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) to resign.

Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn (D-S.C.) issued a brief statement Saturday saying he stood by his earlier assertion that “the full caucus should address this issue when we meet next week.”

Lawmakers will return Monday from a weeklong recess. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the leaders of the Democratic National Committee and Congressional Campaign Committee on Saturday called on Weiner to resign, in part to head off further distractions when members return to the Capitol.

Weiner said through a spokeswoman he had departed to seek “professional treatment” and would request a short leave of absence from the House after admitting to sending explicitly sexual messages to women on the Internet.

The No. 2 House Democrat, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), has been quiet Saturday after earlier joining Pelosi’s call for an ethics investigation into Weiner's behavior.

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