After resigning from Congress due to a series of previous sexting scandals in 2011, former Rep. Anthony Weiner pleaded guilty in federal court on Friday to transferring obscene material to a minor. On the same day that her husband pled guilty to sexting with a 15-year-old, Huma Abedin filed for divorce.
Representing New York’s 9th congressional district from 1999 to 2011, Weiner resigned in disgrace after several explicit photos and messages became public that had been exchanged between Weiner and other women. While running for mayor of New York City two years later, another sexting scandal became public that revealed the name of Weiner’s favorite alias: “Carlos Danger.”
According to the Information filed in Manhattan federal court on Friday, Weiner used online messaging and video chat apps to transfer obscene material to a 15-year-old girl that he knew was a minor. According to his plea deal, Weiner admitted that he sent her directions to engage in sexual conduct and sexually explicit images.
“I have a sickness, but I do not have an excuse,” Weiner wept as he sought forgiveness in court. “I apologize to everyone I have hurt. I apologize to the teenage girl, whom I mistreated so badly.”
On Friday, Weiner pled guilty to one count of transferring obscenity to a minor and must register as a sex offender. Due to the terms of Weiner’s plea deal, prosecutors have requested that he serve between 21 and 27 months in prison, but the disgraced congressman could face a maximum sentence of 10 years.
“Former Congressman Anthony Weiner admitted and pled guilty to sending sexually explicit images and directions to engage in sexual conduct to a girl he knew to be 15 years old,” stated Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon Kim. “Weiner’s conduct was not only reprehensible, but a federal crime, one for which he is now convicted and will be sentenced.”
After filing for separation in August 2016, Weiner’s wife, Huma Abedin, reportedly filed for divorce on the same day as his guilty plea. Vice chair of Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, Abedin and Clinton became the subjects of a federal investigation last year while the FBI searched Weiner’s laptop for incriminating evidence. Clinton later blamed then-FBI Director James Comey for costing her the election.
According to Comey’s recent testimony, both major presidential campaigns were under federal investigation during the election. Believing that Clinton would win the presidency, Comey revealed the investigation into her emails had been reopened in an attempt to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest.
Agreeing to forfeit all obscene material from his electronic devices, Weiner is currently scheduled for sentencing on September 8.
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