An aide for Rep. Anthony Weiner made the disclosure in a statement Saturday shortly after several Democratic party leaders demanded he resign for exchanging messages and photos ranging from sexually suggestive to explicit with several women online.

“This sordid affair has become an unacceptable distraction for Representative Weiner, his family, his constituents and the House,” Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, said in a written statement calling for the 46-year-old married lawmaker lawmaker to step down.

The House Democratic leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi said Weiner “has the love of his family, the confidence of his constituents and the recognition that he needs help. I urge Congressman Weiner to seek that help without the pressures of being a member of Congress.” Aides said later that Pelosi had been aware of Weiner's plan to enter treatment when she issued her statement, and her call for a resignation had not changed because of it.

The scandal has dominated the news and distracted attention from efforts by President Barack Obama's Democrats to slam Republicans for proposing deep cuts to Medicare, a popular health care program for the elderly.

Weiner's spokeswoman, Risa Heller, said in the statement that the congressman departed during the morning “to seek professional treatment to focus on becoming a better husband and healthier person. In light of that, he will request a short leave of absence from the House of Representatives so that he can get evaluated and map out a course of treatment to make himself well.” The statement did not say where he would receive treatment, or what type was involved. Others familiar with his plans said he had left New York by air.