Weigel

David Wu Resigns

The full statement:

It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be a United States Congressman. Rare is the nation in which an immigrant child can become a national political figure. I thank God and my parents for the privilege of being an American.

Now, however, the time has come to hand on the privilege of high office. I cannot care for my family the way I wish while serving in Congress and fighting these very serious allegations.

The wellbeing of my children must come before anything else. With great sadness, I therefore intend to resign effective upon the resolution of the debt-ceiling crisis. This is the right decision for my family, the institution of the House, and my colleagues.

It is also the only correct decision to avoid any distraction from the important work at hand in Washington. I intend to go forward with new resolve and love of family, the State of Oregon, and our nation.

My emphasis. Wu will stick around to take what will be, for everyone else, a tough vote. Wu probably dug his own grave when he started disclosing his mental health history but didn’t disclose the rest of his mistakes. Two Democrats were already running to replace him; they start a special election in this district, in Portland’s liberal-leaning suburbs, with an advantage.