WU OUT FOR INAPPROPRIATE WOOING – AT 8:24 A.M. ET:  The latest Democratic member of Congress to be accused of improper sexual advances, not to mention some other bizarre behavior, has decided to get out of town before things get worse.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Rep. David Wu, facing an accusation of an unwanted sexual encounter with an 18-year-old woman and a request for an investigation by the House Ethics Committee, will not seek re-election next year and was pondering whether he would complete his term, a spokesman for the Oregon Democrat said Monday.
In a letter sent Monday, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi requested the Ethics Committee investigation. The Oregonian, Wu's hometown newspaper, had reported that a California woman left a voicemail at Wu's office accusing him of an unwanted sexual encounter. Wu, 56, has said the encounter was consensual.

A few hours after the investigation request, Wu spokesman Erik Dorey told The Associated Press: "He's still determining his political future, but he will not run for re-election. He's fully focused on fulfilling his elected duties and serving his constituents to the best of his duties here in the House."

Wu tried to keep a low profile Monday as lawmakers returned to work and focused their attention on the debate over raising the debt ceiling. Dorey, his communications director, noted that Wu took part in House votes.

Wu, in his seventh term, was guaranteed a stiff primary challenge after seven staffers resigned in January because of unusual behavior that included sending a photo of himself in a tiger costume to a staff member and an angry public speech. Wu attributed those actions to a period of mental health challenges that began in 2008 as marital issues led to separation from his wife.

Those problems paled compared to the potential fallout from the encounter with the young California woman. Citing anonymous sources, The Oregonian reported that Wu told senior aides that the sexual encounter was consensual. The Portland paper reported Facebook notes indicated she graduated from high school in 2010 and that she registered to vote in California last August.

COMMENT:  So off to the land of Weiner goes Wu.  Is there something about the letter "W" that bums Democrats?  Ultra-lib Democratic Congressman Lynn Woolsey, in a safe district, recently announced she was leaving Congress.  Expect some Democrats to protest the letter "W" as a human rights violation.

July 26, 2011