Congressman David Wu Acknowledges Use of Prescription Painkillers
This photo of U.S. Rep. David Wu landed in staffers' inboxes as concerns about the Democratic congressman's behavior increased. A spokesman for Wu called the photo "a moment with his kids."U.S. Rep. David Wu (D-Ore.) acknowledged today in a statement to WW that he used prescription painkillers last fall in the run-up to his election campaign, a period that is now the subject of intense national scrutiny.
As first reported by WW on the afternoon of Feb. 18, the Democratic congressman behaved bizarrely in a string of unusual pre-election incidents that included the Oregon lawmaker sending late-night emails and odd photos. That stretch caused close political advisers to stage two "interventions" before the Nov. 2 election. Sources tell WW the aides were worried about Wu's health and urged him to seek psychiatric care.
Wu's statement today about the painkillers—prescribed by a doctor—offered further details about the stress he was undergoing one week before the election.
"Last fall, I had occasional spasms of severe neck pain for which I took medication that was prescribed by my doctor," Wu said in a written statement.For more, be sure to check out tomorrow's WW.
