Former Congressman Anthony Weiner is attempting an unlikely political resurrection by running for a seat on the New York City Council, bringing his scandal-ridden past into full public view once again.
At a Glance
- Anthony Weiner is running in the Democratic primary for Manhattan’s District 2 City Council seat.
- He previously resigned from Congress and served prison time for sexting a minor.
- Weiner joked about his past scandals in a recent YouTube interview.
- His 2016 scandal indirectly affected the Clinton email investigation.
- Public reaction to his comeback attempt has been overwhelmingly negative.
Unabashed Comeback Attempt
In his first political move since his failed 2013 mayoral campaign, Anthony Weiner is entering the race for New York City Council. Speaking on comedian Adam Friedland’s YouTube show, Weiner made light of his past, saying, “Oh for sure, for sure, my god, they’re crazy about me. Women are crazy about me,” a reference that many interpreted as a tasteless nod to his infamous sexting scandals.
The former congressman, now a registered sex offender, appears to be betting that enough time—and perhaps voter fatigue—will allow him to reenter public service.
A History of Scandal
Weiner’s political implosion began in 2011 when he admitted to sending explicit photos to women on Twitter. His resignation was quickly followed by another scandal during his 2013 mayoral run, when he continued similar behavior under the pseudonym “Carlos Danger.” But it was his 2017 conviction for sexting with a 15-year-old that sent him to prison for 21 months and added him to the national sex offender registry.
“I’m a guy named Weiner who tweeted out a picture of his d—,” he said in the interview, reducing a years-long saga of misconduct to a crude punchline.
Impact Beyond Personal Disgrace
Weiner’s 2016 scandal had far-reaching political consequences. During the FBI’s investigation into his laptop, agents found emails connected to Hillary Clinton’s private server probe. Then-FBI Director James Comey’s decision to reopen the email investigation just days before the presidential election is widely considered a pivotal blow to Clinton’s campaign, potentially tipping the race in Donald Trump’s favor.
Public Reaction and Fallout
Weiner seems unconcerned with how voters might respond to his past, suggesting that his scandals wouldn’t even register as major news in today’s chaotic political climate. “They thought I was Eliot Spitzer,” he joked about his time in prison.
But reactions online have been far from forgiving. “Only in NYC would Anthony Weiner have a chance at making a political comeback,” tweeted conservative commentator Scott Greer. Fox News and the New York Post also circulated clips of Weiner joking about his past, sparking a renewed wave of public criticism.
Whether voters in Manhattan’s District 2 are willing to overlook a felony sex crime and repeated public embarrassments remains to be seen. But Weiner’s glib attitude toward his history is already shaping the narrative—and the outrage—around his latest political act.
