New Rule Called The Weiner Principle -- If You're Guilty, Just Resign

Finally, after almost three weeks of media battles, mystery and mea culpas, humiliated e-mail pervert, New York Congressman Anthony Weiner is stepping down.

Whether it was his colleagues in Congress or his embarrassed pregnant wife Huma who just returned from the Middle East on Wednesday who influenced his decision, there are only two words that describe the news: good riddance.

Weiner's story was not a case study in how to handle a crisis, it was an example of what not to do. While his actions -- tweeting naked and offensive pictures to women (perhaps unsolicited) are reprehensible, it was his intentional deceit,  dodging of the media for days, his arrogant attitude toward anyone who questioned him, and ultimately his many lies --that sunk the man who aspired to one day be the mayor of New York City. 

This week New York Post financial columnist John Crudele asked Weiner whether or not he would raise the debt ceiling. Weiner refused to answer. Though he said his troubles weren't a distraction, they clearly had become one, for his district and the Democrats. Once he lost credibility, as a public official, he lost it all.

Weiner could have spared himself, his constituents, his party and the country a lot of humiliation and energy if he would have not been so stubborn and selfish and stepped down sooner. But his pride was trumped by the understandable fear of more news to come. That threat was too great for Congress and for his family to bear.

Today, the saga that was decorated with double entendres has come to a close and we're left with simply one lesson: if you're guilty, just resign.

Andrea Tantaros is a conservative commentator and Fox News contributor. Follow her on Twitter @andreatantaros.