Rep. David Wu ensnared in sex scandal as Pelosi calls for House ethics investigation

In the latest sex scandal to hit Washington, a spokesman for Rep. David Wu announced Monday that the Oregon congressman would not seek reelection next year following allegations that he had an “unwanted sexual encounter” with the 18-year-old daughter of a longtime friend and campaign donor.

The Washington Post is reporting that spokesman Erik Dorey said Wu has not decided whether he will resign before his term is up next December. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi sent a letter to the leaders of the House Ethics Committee requesting an investigation.

“Recent press reports and statements attributed to our colleague, Representative David Wu, indicate that he may have engaged in inappropriate activities,” Pelosi wrote in the letter.

After the Oregonian broke the story on Friday, Wu, 56, issued a short statement saying the situation was “very serious” and that he had “absolutely no desire to bring unwanted publicity, attention or stress to the young woman and her family.”

According to the Oregonian, Wu’s staff became aware of the incident in May when a young woman left a distraught voice mail message at his district office in Portland accusing him of aggressive and unwanted sexual behavior. At the time, Wu told his senior aides that he had sex with her, but that it was consensual.

The unidentified teenager did not call the police or report the incident, which allegedly happened in Orange County, Calif. over the Thanksgiving holiday last November. She decided not to press charges because it would have been her word against the congressman’s, the Oregonian reports.

Wu, a seven-term House member and the first Chinese-American elected to Congress, is separated from his wife, Michelle, and they are reportedly divorcing, Politico reports. They have two children. Since his one-sentence statement on Friday, Wu has not talked to the press, except to say he is focusing on taking care of the best interests of his family.