Wu in hot water again

PORTLAND – Congressman David Wu, who earlier this year apologized for bizarre behavior during his most recent re-election campaign, was facing calls for his resignation on Saturday over yet another crisis – a young woman’s reported accusation that she had an “unwanted sexual encounter” with the Democrat three weeks after his election victory in November.

A source close to Wu told the Associated Press the seven-term Democrat was planning to meet with congressional leaders in Washington, D.C., on Saturday to discuss the allegation, which was reported by the Oregonian newspaper.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said any potential outcome of the talks with congressional leaders is not known.

The allegation seemed to be boiling into yet another sex scandal confronting a member of Congress. It comes a month after Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., stepped down after getting caught sending suggestive pictures of himself on his Twitter account.

Late Friday, the 56-year-old Wu issued a one-sentence statement about the Oregonian’s report: “This is very serious, and I have absolutely no desire to bring unwanted publicity, attention or stress to a young woman and her family.”

Pressure was building on Wu to publicly address the allegation. There were also calls for his resignation.

“I’m saddened to hear this news. David owes the citizens he represents a detailed explanation,” said State Rep. Brad Witt, who is running against Wu in the Democratic primary next spring. “If this accusation proves to be true, it’s time for David Wu to resign and get the help he needs.”

Another challenger of Wu in the Democratic primary, state Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian, said Saturday Wu should resign immediately.

“I think any 56-year-old man, especially a 56-year-old congressman, that asserts himself like this on an 18-year-old girl, has got no business serving in Congress,” Avakian said at a news conference. “There is nothing that can be explained that makes this situation right. He’s got to resign.”

Quoting anonymous sources, the Oregonian reported that Wu told senior aides that the sexual encounter last November with the young woman in California was consensual. The paper reported Facebook notes indicate she graduated from high school in 2010 and that she registered to vote in California last August.

The paper said the woman decided not to press charges because there were no witnesses and it would have been her word against Wu’s.

The Oregonian’s report adds new troubles for a congressman who fought accusations of strange and erratic behavior during his re-election campaign last year. Seven members of his re-election campaign quit in January because of behavior that included sending a photo of himself in a tiger costume to a staff member and an angry public speech.

The Oregonian quoted sources as saying that a distraught young woman called Wu’s Portland office earlier this year and left a voicemail accusing him of an unwanted sexual encounter in Southern California three weeks after last year’s election.

The paper said the woman is the daughter of a high school friend of Wu’s who has donated to the congressman’s campaign.