Former Pennsylvania Rep. Curt Weldon is in Tripoli to urge Col. Moammar Gadhafi to immediately call a ceasefire and stop attacks on other Libyans. Weldon, a Republican, says he's visiting Libya at Gadhafi's invitation, according to AP. But New York television station WPIX, which has a reporter traveling with Weldon, says Gadhafi canceled the get-together after Weldon arrived yesterday.
The Obama Administration insists Weldon carries no message from the White House and is not acting on behalf of the U.S. government, according to USA Today. This week, Weldon published an opinion piece in the New York Times urging Gadhafi to quit. (Remember the Times' paywall - there's a summary at the National Journal.)
CBS News reports Weldon has close ties to Gadhafi's family, but maintains he is not trying to undermine President Obama.
Weldon has faced ethical questions previously; in 2006 he lost a re-election bid after the FBI investigated his relationship with contractors. He was not charged with any crime. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports others close to Weldon were convicted.
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