OhioGOP: Will Sherrod Brown Call for Weiner's Resignation?

Release:

COLUMBUS - Ohio Republican Party Communications Director Christopher Maloney released the following statement after calls by national Democrats for New York Congressman Anthony Weiner to resign:

"Talk is cheap. It's time for Sherrod Brown to walk the walk when it comes to draining Washington's 'ethical swamp;' it's time for him to join his fellow candidates for U.S. Senate and Democratic Party peers in calling for Anthony Weiner's resignation," Maloney said.

"Sherrod Brown sits on the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics. As long as Senator Brown intends on continuing to incorporate ethics and good government into his 2012 campaign platform, he should join with his Democratic colleagues and provide Ohioans with an answer on whether Anthony Weiner should resign his seat in Congress."

Background Information:

Sherrod Brown on former Ohio Attorney General's embattled sex scandal: "I am always disappointed when there are problems like that with an elected official." "Gov. Ted Strickland joined seven other top Ohio Democrats in an extraordinary effort to oust the attorney general. They said Dann no longer can function in that office because of a litany of management failings and ethical breaches..." (Alan Johnson,"Quit or be impeached, Democrats tell Dann," Columbus Dispatch, 5/6/08)

At last count, two U.S. Senators and seven members of the U.S. House --all Democrats-- have called for Weiner's resignation: "House Democrats who called for Weiner to step aside: Niki Tsongas of Massachusetts, Larry Kissell of North Carolina, Michael Michaud of Maine, Joe Donnelly of Indiana and Mike Ross of Arkansas, according to various news reports. Democratic Sens. Patrick Leahy of Vermont and Mark Pryor of Arkansas also said it is time for Weiner to go." (Jonathan Allen, "Democrats Starting Bailing on Weiner," Politico, 6/9/11)

Former DNC Chairman & 2012 U.S. Senate candidate Tim Kaine calls on Weiner to resign: "'Lying is unforgivable,' said Kaine, the first Democrat to call outright for Weiner's (D-N.Y.) resignation." (Daniel Strauss, "Former DNC Chairman Tim Kaine Says Rep. Weiner Should Resign," The Hill, 6/8/11)

U.S. Senate Candidate and Congressional Democrat Joe Donnelly calls for Weiner resignation: "In a statement in response to an inquiry, Donnelly, who is running for Senate said that the Brooklyn congressman has "disgraced the Congress" and indicated he would give away the campaign contributions he's received from him." (David Catanese, "Donnelly Calls for Weiner's Resignation," Politico, 6/8/11)

Anthony Weiner asked a porn star to lie for him: "Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) and porn star Ginger Lee exchanged 'scores of emails' and that he offered her public relations help -- a possible ethics violation -- and asked her to lie. ...'" (Taegan Goddard, "Weiner Asked Porn Star to Lie for Him," Political Wire Blog, 6/7/11)

Weiner emails show he proactively attempted to lie to American Public: "Rep. Anthony Weiner encouraged a porn star to lie about their on-line relationship and offered her the help of his public relations team, according to a report on Tuesday." (Jennifer Epstein, "Report: Anthony Weiner Coached Woman to Lie," Politico, 6/7/11)

Weiner's support from Democratic colleagues "collapses" after "embarrassing" House of Reps: "No sooner had Mr. Weiner delivered a startlingly abject admission and apology - carried live on television Monday from a circuslike news conference in Manhattan - than top Democrats on Capitol Hill began distancing themselves from him and his behavior." (David Halbfinger, "Democrats Shy From Weiner As G.O.P Seizes on Scandal," NY Times, 6/7/11)