NY Congressman Resigns After Craigslist Hook-up Blunder

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • Nickdfresh
    SUPER MODERATOR

    • Oct 2004
    • 49205

    NY Congressman Resigns After Craigslist Hook-up Blunder

    Rep. Chris Lee resigns after reports of Craigslist flirtation

    By David A. Fahrenthold and Aaron Blake
    Washington Post Staff Writers
    Wednesday, February 9, 2011; 11:01 PM

    Rep. Chris Lee of New York abruptly resigned Wednesday evening, hours after a gossip Web site reported that the married Republican had allegedly sent flirtatious e-mail messages and a shirtless photo of himself to a woman he met online.

    Lee experienced his fall from grace in a single afternoon, undone at the speed of the digital age. At lunchtime Wednesday, he was an obscure but promising second-term congressman. Then, at 2:33 p.m., the Web site Gawker posted an alleged e-mail exchange between a man who used Lee's name - but identified himself as a divorced lobbyist - and an unidentified woman. Gawker reported that the two had met through the personals section of Craigslist.

    After that, the familiar cycles of a Washington sex scandal were compressed into a blur of tweets and news alerts. There was confusion, a hint of denial, then a pledge from Lee to "work it out" with his wife.

    By 6 p.m., a clerk was announcing Lee's resignation in the House chamber.

    "I regret the harm that my actions have caused my family, my staff and my constituents," Lee said in a statement. "I deeply and sincerely apologize to them all. I have made profound mistakes and I promise to work as hard as I can to seek their forgiveness."

    Lee's statement did not confirm or deny any specific allegations from the Gawker report.

    Lee, 46, elected from a district in western New York, was just beginning his second term in Congress. He had been a successful businessman and was known as an up-and-coming Republican voice on financial issues.

    This term, he was given a coveted spot on the Ways and Means Committee, which writes tax laws. That was considered a quick rise for a new House member and a sign that he had backers in the GOP establishment.

    "Clearly, that doesn't come without somebody loving you somewhere," New York Republican consultant Mike Collins said.

    In New York, Lee was known for bringing his wife and young son to campaign events. He had a mostly conservative record during his time in Congress, though on a number of issues he broke with his party; he recently voted with Democrats on an overhaul of the nation's food-safety system and the Children's Health Insurance Program.

    Republican consultant Jim Derderian, who worked with Lee on manufacturing and technology issues, said he had a rare talent for deconstructing complex subjects.

    "It's a loss to Congress in that respect, because he showed an ability that not many have," Derderian said. "I think it's a shame that that type of perspective - combined with energy - is no longer at our disposal."

    The Gawker report cited an account from a woman, whom the site did not name, who said she posted an ad last month on Craigslist's "women seeking men" forum. In the ad, she said she was looking for "financially & emotionally secure" men who don't "look like toads."

    That same day, she allegedly received a response from a person who said his name was Christopher Lee, describing himself as a 39-year-old lobbyist, "a very fit fun classy guy. Live in Cap Hill area. 6ft 190lbs blond/blue."

    In follow-up e-mails, the man allegedly attached photos - one of himself in a blue polo, the other shirtless. Both of the images bear a significant resemblance to Lee. In its posting, Gawker said the woman cut off the electronic conversation and contacted Gawker after she did an online search for Lee and "concluded he'd lied about his age and occupation."

    Gawker said it had confirmed that the e-mail address used to send the messages belonged to Lee.

    If the e-mails were sent by Lee, he created a scandal made for the Internet. The allegations were not conveyed in whispers or court affidavits, wrapped up in charges and countercharges. They were conveyed in a photograph of a man making a muscle in a mirror. Lee's problems spread as fast as it took to hit "Forward."

    His office first responded, according to Gawker, by saying that the only things Lee had posted online had to do with selling old furniture, and suggesting that Lee's e-mail account had been hacked.

    Then, later in the afternoon, a Fox News reporter caught Lee going to his car. "I have to work this out with my wife," he said.

    Now, New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) must call a special election to fill Lee's seat, which is expected to remain in Republican hands.

    On Wednesday, the news moved so quickly that many people back in western New York heard about the resignation before they heard there was a scandal. It left Lee's constituents shocked and scrambling for choices to replace him.

    "I think he's blossomed over the last two years," said Richard Yolevich (R), a county legislator in Monroe County. "He was a lot quieter at first. Now, he seems to know - or he seemed to know - what was going on."

    "He's an absolute gentleman. I'm shocked. I'm disappointed," Yolevich said in a phone interview. "My wife's sitting right here. We're both disappointed."

    fahrenthold@washpost.com blakea@washpost.com

    Staff writer Felicia Sonmez contributed to this report.
  • FORD
    ROTH ARMY MODERATOR

    • Jan 2004
    • 58789

    #2
    Gotta love that party of "family values".

    I wonder if FAUX noize has shown him with a "D" next to his name yet, like they always do with the Repuke scandals?
    Eat Us And Smile

    Cenk For America 2024!!

    Justice Democrats


    "If the American people had ever known the truth about what we (the BCE) have done to this nation, we would be chased down in the streets and lynched." - Poppy Bush, 1992

    Comment

    • ace diamond
      Full Member Status

      • Sep 2004
      • 3863

      #3
      Originally posted by FORD
      Gotta love that party of "family values".

      I wonder if FAUX noize has shown him with a "D" next to his name yet, like they always do with the Repuke scandals?
      well, ford, after all, I am a member of the grand old party.
      so this sort of shit is fairly common.
      look for the rnc chairman, and speaker bonehead to disown the guy here very shortly.
      this is really bad and damaging stuff considering that next year there is a presidential election......
      this could really fuck things up.......
      Originally posted by hideyoursheep
      When Hagar speaks, I want to cut off my ears and send them to Bristol Palin.
      "It's like trying to fit a mouse fart into a sardine can with a shoe horn"-Ace Diamond

      Comment

      • FORD
        ROTH ARMY MODERATOR

        • Jan 2004
        • 58789

        #4
        I guess the new RNC guy could use some press, so he might do some face time on FAUX. Boner will just cry about it. (He's got his own sex scandal going anyway)
        Eat Us And Smile

        Cenk For America 2024!!

        Justice Democrats


        "If the American people had ever known the truth about what we (the BCE) have done to this nation, we would be chased down in the streets and lynched." - Poppy Bush, 1992

        Comment

        • ace diamond
          Full Member Status

          • Sep 2004
          • 3863

          #5
          Originally posted by FORD
          I guess the new RNC guy could use some press, so he might do some face time on FAUX. Boner will just cry about it. (He's got his own sex scandal going anyway)
          you are probably right about that.
          Originally posted by hideyoursheep
          When Hagar speaks, I want to cut off my ears and send them to Bristol Palin.
          "It's like trying to fit a mouse fart into a sardine can with a shoe horn"-Ace Diamond

          Comment

          • BigBadBrian
            TOASTMASTER GENERAL
            • Jan 2004
            • 10625

            #6
            Originally posted by FORD
            Gotta love that party of "family values".
            You're just mad he's not gay and didn't send his pic to you.

            Anyway, this guy did the right thing and resigned.

            I wonder if FAUX noize has shown him with a "D" next to his name yet, like they always do with the Repuke scandals?
            I wonder when that piece of shit crook Charlie Rangel is going to do the right thing and resign. FORD, shouldn't he resign? Or better yet, be in jail?
            “If bullshit was currency, Joe Biden would be a billionaire.” - George W. Bush

            Comment

            • BigBadBrian
              TOASTMASTER GENERAL
              • Jan 2004
              • 10625

              #7
              Originally posted by FORD
              (He's got his own sex scandal going anyway)
              Don't count on that one. He read all the R's the riot act about no tolerance for ANY type of scandal so I doubt there is anything to that. Personally, I would rather see Cantor or Ryan in his place anyway.
              “If bullshit was currency, Joe Biden would be a billionaire.” - George W. Bush

              Comment

              • ELVIS
                Banned
                • Dec 2003
                • 44120

                #8
                What an idiot...

                Comment

                • Nitro Express
                  DIAMOND STATUS
                  • Aug 2004
                  • 32798

                  #9
                  Originally posted by FORD
                  I guess the new RNC guy could use some press, so he might do some face time on FAUX. Boner will just cry about it. (He's got his own sex scandal going anyway)


                  Bonehead Ompaloompa would go off like Jimmy Swaggart.
                  No! You can't have the keys to the wine cellar!

                  Comment

                  • SunisinuS
                    Crazy Ass Mofo
                    • May 2010
                    • 3301

                    #10
                    • The number of sex scandals has increased dramatically over the past few decades, thanks to technology, new press standards and a post-Clinton belief that everything is fair game.

                    • Republicans have more scandals (34 to 27), but Democrats have bigger ones, based on our methodology (13 out of the top 20).

                    • Democrats tend to have more problems with harassment, staffers and underage girls; Republicans tend to have more problems with prostitutes, hypocrisy and underage boys.




                    A smart, speedy take on breaking news and opinion in politics, media, entertainment, and more.
                    Last edited by SunisinuS; 02-11-2011, 12:43 PM. Reason: Does the right hand know about what the left hand diddled?
                    Can't Control your Future. Can't Control your Friends. The women start to hike their skirts up. I didn't have a clue. That is when I kinda learned how to smile a lot. One Two Three Fouir fun ter thehr fuur.

                    Comment

                    • Nickdfresh
                      SUPER MODERATOR

                      • Oct 2004
                      • 49205

                      #11
                      Originally posted by BigBadBrian
                      You're just mad he's not gay and didn't send his pic to you.

                      Anyway, this guy did the right thing and resigned.
                      He resigned in record time, I'll give him that. And I'm not at all happy that this happened despite my reputation as a raving leftist here, I really wanted this guy to succeed. But that pick of him was soooooo fucking bad! It almost looked more like an Onion parody of a guy on Craigslist trying to get laid than an actual politician on Craigslist trying to get laid. I'm not so much morally offended as I'm offended by his complete lack of judgment and arrogance...

                      I wonder when that piece of shit crook Charlie Rangel is going to do the right thing and resign. FORD, shouldn't he resign? Or better yet, be in jail?
                      Nice deflection...

                      Comment

                      • sadaist
                        TOASTMASTER GENERAL
                        • Jul 2004
                        • 11625

                        #12
                        Originally posted by Nickdfresh

                        the woman cut off the electronic conversation and contacted Gawker after she did an online search for Lee and "concluded he'd lied about his age and occupation."

                        Online dating EVERYONE lies about something. Even in real life dating. So if she was upset with this, why didn't she just stop communication & move on? Oh yeah...PAYDAY!!!

                        Fucking greedy bitches...all of them.
                        “Great losses often bring only a numb shock. To truly plunge a victim into misery, you must overwhelm him with many small sufferings.”

                        Comment

                        • sadaist
                          TOASTMASTER GENERAL
                          • Jul 2004
                          • 11625

                          #13
                          Originally posted by FORD
                          Gotta love that party of "family values".

                          I wonder if FAUX noize has shown him with a "D" next to his name yet, like they always do with the Repuke scandals?

                          Scandal? He didn't lie about it and resigned right away. It's not like he shoved a cigar in her snatch then spooged all over her dress while refusing to resign or admit to anything.
                          “Great losses often bring only a numb shock. To truly plunge a victim into misery, you must overwhelm him with many small sufferings.”

                          Comment

                          • Hardrock69
                            DIAMOND STATUS
                            • Feb 2005
                            • 21888

                            #14



                            Originally posted by Nitro Express

                            Bonehead Ompaloompa would go off like Jimmy Swaggart.

                            Comment

                            • Blaze
                              Full Member Status

                              • Jan 2009
                              • 4371

                              #15
                              Originally posted by sadaist
                              Online dating EVERYONE lies about something. Even in real life dating. So if she was upset with this, why didn't she just stop communication & move on? Oh yeah...PAYDAY!!!

                              Fucking greedy bitches...all of them.
                              She did the ethically right thing to do.

                              It is irrelevant if she chose to be a capitalist.

                              Such poor judgement and deceitfulness <- read as corruption, from a law maker (good grief, he did not even obscure his face) needs to be publicized.
                              However, he did the right thing by stating clearly he had screwed up. People sometimes make bad choices, for whatever reason. That was a stupid move he made.
                              I do not see where that would call for a resignation. There had to be other factors.
                              "I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. - Some come from ahead and some come from behind. - But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see. - Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!" ~ Dr. Seuss
                              sigpic

                              Comment

                              Working...