The Hill News

Rep. David Wu's (D-Ore.) announcement that he plans to resign is in the best interest of his children and his constituents, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Tuesday.

"Congressman Wu’s decision today is a recognition of his need to focus on his children and their future.  The timing of his decision is in the best interests of his constituents," Pelosi said in a statement. "My prayers are with him and his family."

Earlier on Tuesday Wu announced that he planned to resign from his congressional seat after the debt-limit crisis was resolved.

Wu's resignation came a few days after Pelosi and Democratic Congressional Committee Chairman Steve Israel (N.Y.) on Sunday night called for a House Ethics Committee inq! uiry into Wu in response to reports that Wu had an unwanted sexual encounter with a teenager.

The damaging news reports weren't the first that came out of Wu's office this year. Earlier this year a number of Wu's staff resigned because of reported "bizarre" behavior by the seven-term congressman including sending his staff a photo of himself in a full body tiger costume and sending out emails in the voice of his daughter.

Prior to Wu's announcement on Tuesday he said he would not resign but he did not plan to seek reelection.