David Wu resigns amidst crisis

AAP staff report

Washington, D.C. (July 26, 2011) — Recent rumors of inappropriate relations with staff and long term talk of troubling behavior and stress issues for several months, has prompted U.S. Congressman David Wu to announce in a press release Tuesday that he will resign following the vote on the budget crisis.

The announcement comes as no surprise to Oregonians, who report that Wu is in the news constantly, and that he had lost many staffers since the last election victory that have expressed concern over changing behavior. Wu reportedly lost his father prior to winning his sixth term, and the recent troubles led him to announce that he would not seek reelection.

“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be a United States Congressman. Rare is the nation in which an immigrant child can become a national political figure. I thank God and my parents for the privilege of being an American,” Wu stated.

“Now, however, the time has come to hand on the privilege of high office. I cannot care for my family the way I wish while serving in Congress and fighting these very serious allegations.

“The wellbeing of my children must come before anything else. With great sadness, I therefore intend to resign effective upon the resolution of the debt-ceiling crisis. This is the right decision for my family, the institution of the House, and my colleagues.

“It is also the only correct decision to avoid any distraction from the important work at hand in Washington. I intend to go forward with new resolve and love of family, the State of Oregon, and our nation.”

Wu has held the Oregon 1st Congressional District seat since January 1999. He was the first Chinese American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and has held the seat for six terms.

During his tenure, Wu has also served as chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and remains an executive board member. Wu served on the Committee on Science Space and Technology; and the Committee on Education and Labor.

In 2005, Rep. Wu named 14 year-old Roseville teenager ShengShee Thor, as a recipient of a The U.S. Space Camp/Academy. Thor won the scholarship from thousands of other APIA kids around the country for his essay on why he wanted to go to camp.

The five-day astronaut training program for young people and activities include simulated Space Shuttle missions and other training that the austronauts go through in the Alabama phase.

Wu and spouse Michelle Maxine Wu married in 1996 and have two children. They separated in 2009.

Wu came to America as a child from Taiwan and was raised in New York State and graduated from Stanford University before earning his law degree at Yale Law School. After working for a private firm he decided to run for office.