Married New York congressman Anthony Weiner says he regrets making “terrible mistakes” but is not resigning over a series of racy online chats with women.
Mr Weiner told a news conference he was “deeply ashamed of his terrible judgement”, saying he had taken part in a series of “inappropriate conversations” with women online.
Last week, a picture of a man’s crotch was sent from Mr Weiner’s Twitter account. He said he had been hacked but on Monday admitted that was not true, saying that he had “panicked”.
The married congressman’s tearful admission came on the same day a conservative blogger posted apparent shirtless photos of Mr Weiner.
Conservative provocateur Andrew Brightbart said he had obtained the photos from a woman with whom Mr Weiner had flirted online.
Mr Weiner, a native New Yorker and former New York City Council member, was known for his outspoken liberal views and his fiery speeches on the floor of the US House of Representatives in which he denounced Republican initiatives and defended Democratic priorities.
Last year he married Huma Abedin, a top aide to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.