Former Rep. Anthony Weiner’s connection to a revived FBI investigation into presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton’s secret email server has former allies publicly livid.
The New York Times interviewed Democratic power brokers over the weekend after it was revealed that Mr. Weiner’s text messages to a 15-year-old girl led FBI investigators to find possibly “pertinent” emails linked to Mrs. Clinton’s private email server as secretary of state. The general consensus seemed to be that muted criticism out of respect for his estranged wife — and top Clinton adviser — Huma Abedin was no longer an option.
“He is like a recurring nightmare,” the Rev. Al Sharpton told the newspaper. “It’s like one of those ’Damien’ movies — it’s like every time you think he’s dead, he keeps coming again.”
John L. Burton, the chairman of the California Democratic Party, used “a profane seven-letter word” to describe the man, and other former aides to Mr. Weiner fumed over “collateral damage” he was causing the party, The Times reported.
“They knew he was a narcissist who was massively flawed,” Democratic strategist Bill Hyers told the newspaper on Sunday. “And now we’re all still stuck with him.”
Vice President Joseph R. Biden echoed the group’s sentiments in a CNN interview last Friday when said, “Oh, God” at Mr. Weiner’s name.
“I’m not a big fan,” Mr. Biden said.
FBI investigators secured a warrant from the Justice Department over the weekend to view thousands of messages by Ms. Abedin on Mr. Weiner’s laptop, sources told Reuters on Monday.
FBI Director James B. Comey released a letter to Congress on Friday about the investigation.
The ongoing investigation threatens to cast further doubt on Mrs. Clinton’s honesty and integrity less than two weeks before the Nov. 8 presidential election.
“We are calling on Mr. Comey to come forward and explain what’s at issue here,” Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta said during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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