Newspapers, GOP to Rep. Wu: Resign

In the middle of last year’s campaign, Oregon Rep. David Wu sent a picture of himself wearing a tiger costume to his staff members. The Democrat ended up winning the election—handing him his seventh term—but the tiger picture and other strange revelations have led to calls for the Congressman to step down. Seven staff members resigned over concerns with Wu’s bizarre behavior, and now the GOP and one of the state’s largest newspapers have joined the call for his resignation. Wu has admitted to seeking medical treatment and counseling after a stressful campaign, but has no plans to leave office, the AP reports.

Oregon’s second-largest newspaper called yesterday for Wu to step down over his “lack of candor” and the fact that he was not “forthcoming about his medical treatment.” A newspaper from Wu’s district will publish a similar editorial today claiming that Wu “is becoming an embarrassment,” and the state Republican Party chairman says the people in his district “deserve to have a congressman who's completely focused on serving them.” In a statement, Wu said he regrets his “unprofessional and inappropriate” behavior, but his spokesperson says he will not resign and is still planning to seek reelection. (More David Wu stories.)