Posted on 10/12/2004 9:39:51 AM PDT by KillBill
David Wu admits to 'inexcusable behavior'
PORTLAND, Ore. - A Democratic congressman in a tight re-election race admitted Tuesday that while he was a college student 28 years ago, he was disciplined by school officials for "inexcusable behavior" toward an ex-girlfriend.
The admission by Rep. David Wu, D-Ore., came immediately after a report published in The Oregonian newspaper saying a former girlfriend from college once claimed Wu tried to force her into having sex. The report said the woman, whom the newspaper did not identify, declined to comment, citing privacy concerns.
In his statement, Wu said he had a "two-year romantic relationship that ended with inexcusable behavior on my part."
"I take full responsibility for my actions and I am very sorry," Wu said in a statement. "I was disciplined by Stanford University for my behavior, and I worked with a counselor. This single event forever changed my life and the person I have become."
He didn't elaborate.
Wu, 49, is facing a tough re-election challenge this year from Republican Goli Ameri. He is seeking his fourth term in Oregon's 1st Congressional District.
Wu would not speak to The Oregonian for the newspaper's story, which was accompanied by an explanatory editor's note and specified that none of the information in the story had come from Ameri or any Republican officials or activists.
According to The Oregonian, Wu and the woman dated in their junior year, until she broke things off in the spring of 1976.
A former patrol commander at Stanford, Raoul Niemeyer, told The Oregonian that that summer the 21-year-old Wu was brought to the campus police annex after his ex-girlfriend alleged that he tried to force her into sex.
According to Niemeyer, Wu told police that what happened was consensual.
Niemeyer did not see or meet with the woman but said his Officers told him that she was bruised and that she and Wu previously "had some type of a relationship."
"Whether it was an amorous one or whether it was just platonic or what, I never was able to determine because, you know, the guy, he basically clammed up after that and wouldn't talk," Niemeyer told the paper.
Wu was not arrested. The woman ultimately declined criminal prosecution and did not file a formal disciplinary complaint, former Stanford officials said.
But before the next school year began, Wu was "de-selected" for a job as a dormitory resident assistant, a professor who would have supervised him said.
Current Stanford officials would not discuss what happened between Wu and the woman or the university's handling of the matter, citing university policy and student confidentiality laws.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Very nice, Doctor Slim.
He admitted a "two-year romantic relationship that ended with inexcusable behavior on my part." I assume this means he is confirming what the Oregonian said, but doesn't want to say it in public.
So much for my daily flash of inspiration....
Well David, she just didn't wuve wu as much as wu wuvved her.
Unless I know what the "inexcusable behavior" was, I stand by my original contention.
It depends on the severity of the "mistake". DUI? Date rape? Child abuse? Murder? Plagiarism? Shoplifting? Swearing? Where do you draw the line? Rape is pretty damn serious.
WU! HU! sorry.
Boohoo Wu!
Sure, you're sorry. You're just sorry people know. Scumbag!
May have to send something to Goli?
Pray for W and Our Troops
I agree that the severity of the mistake is important. It's not clear to me that this was rape. It could be though. Date/relation rape is sometimes a hazy thing. I'm not excusing it, but I think it's difficult. And the fact that his accuser is not named is a problem. And why bring it out now?
That is to say, a Democratic congressman!
Pitching Wu?
Waddya know, a Dem doesn't fall back on the old "I made a mistake," or "I made an error in judgement," excuse, but actually admits he did something wrong. I got to give him credit for that, anyway. He's still a dem rat and should be held accountable.
Why hide it until now?
Every Wu down in Wuville respected women, a lot,
but David Wu, who lived north of Wuville, did not.
Huh? Not fair to him? He has already admitted to it and "apologized." How is that not fair to him?
This would be a GOP pickup?
Wu's admitting it.
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