White House: Weiner Didn't Call Obama about Resignation Plans

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said he was not aware of any conversations Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y. had with President Obama in recent days, signaling he didn't inform the leader of the Democratic party of his plans. Carney added that it hasn't been an issue that Obama has been focused on and he has more pressing priorities.

Weiner called House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel Wednesday night to inform them of his intention to step down.

Both were at the White House in the evening for a Congressional picnic on the White House south lawn hosted by the first lady and the president. Weiner did not attend.

Previously the White House had shied away from weighing in on the scandal that has dominated Washington headlines for the last couple weeks after the congressman sent lewd photos and exchanged sexual messages with several women and lied about it.

Obama was asked about the situation earlier this week in an interview with NBC's Ann Curry and noted he's embarrassed himself, his wife and his family.

"I can tell you that if it was me, I would resign,'' Obama said.

"When you get to the point where, because of various personal distractions, you can't serve as effectively as you need to, at the time when people are worrying about jobs, and their mortgages, and paying the bills - then you should probably step back,'' the president said.

Weiner is expected to announce his plans at a press conference in New York later Thursday afternoon.

His wife, Huma Abedin, who is also a top of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, returned to D.C. early Wednesday morning from traveling abroad with the secretary. She was seen with Weiner outside their New York apartment on Thursday.