Anthony Weiner said in an email to campaign supporters that the root of his most recent sexting scandal is simple — he hit a rough marital patch last summer with wife, Huma Abedin.
“It was a terrible mistake that I unfortunately returned to during a rough time in our marriage,” he said in the email, by way of explaining the most recent sexting scandal that went public this week, The New York Post reported.
That scandal came about a year after he resigned his congressional seat in disgrace over his first revealed sexting snafu — and as he was telling the press and the public that his sex issues were cured.
At a press conference, he added this, The Post reported: “I think that a lot of people see the [congressional] resignation was the end of the challenges my wife and I, my family faced, and it wasn’t. It was part of something that needed to get resolved and frankly, it hadn’t been.”
He also said at the press conference that now “these things are behind me now” and that he was ready to move ahead with his New York City mayoral bid — the sexting episodes are “about my past life,” The Post reported.
But even fellow Democrats from his own state aren’t buying Mr. Weiner’s claims, and they want him to quit the race.
“I don’t ever recall seeing a wife looking and feeling so sad and embarrassed, because Huma is a very private person, a very delicate, sophisticated person,” said Rep. Charlie Rangel, of Mr. Weiner’s press conference with his wife. He also predicted Mr. Weiner’s political aspirations would fizzle, saying “this is not going to be a story by the time we get” to the primary vote, The Post said.
Rep. Jerrod Nadler, meanwhile, said Mr. Weiner “should not be running,” labeling him a “serial liar” and a “morally bad person.” And Rep. Nydia Velazquez said his run for mayor “was not good for anyone,” The Post reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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