(DC Pundit) – Former Democratic congressman and poster child for digital indiscretion, Anthony Weiner, has decided to throw his hat—and hopefully nothing else—back into the political ring. The 60-year-old registered sex offender, who spent 18 months in federal prison for sending explicit texts to a minor, has formally filed to run for New York City Council in 2025.
Weiner, whose name has become synonymous with political scandal and questionable social media practices, is eyeing the second district seat, which covers the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The open race comes as current incumbent Carlina Rivera reaches her term limit, leaving the door wide open for Weiner’s attempted comeback.
The disgraced politician took to X (formerly Twitter) to joke about his campaign finances. “Mr. Moneybags over here,” he quipped, responding to a New York Post reporter’s screenshot of his less-than-impressive financial summary—showing a balance that would make even a college student’s bank account look flush by comparison.
Weiner’s scandals stretch back to 2011 when he accidentally shared a photo of his semi-erect genitalia on Twitter—a move that promptly ended his congressional career. In 2013, he tried to bounce back by running for New York City mayor, but his campaign was derailed when it came to light that he had continued his sexting habits under the alias “Carlos Danger.” Because nothing says “trustworthy politician” quite like a secret sexting pseudonym.
https://twitter.com/repweiner/status/1866535507770904872
During these tumultuous times, Weiner remained married to Huma Abedin, Hillary Clinton’s right-hand woman. However, their relationship finally hit the rocks in 2016 when Weiner was caught sexting a 15-year-old girl. This scandal had far-reaching consequences, inadvertently impacting the 2016 presidential election when the FBI reopened its investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails just days before the vote.
Abedin, now 48, has since moved on to greener pastures, recently becoming engaged to Alex Soros, the 39-year-old son of billionaire George Soros. Meanwhile, Weiner’s post-prison career has included selling kitchen countertops and launching a podcast called “The Middle with Anthony Weiner”—though one might argue he’s been anything but middle-of-the-road throughout his career.
As part of his release terms, Weiner must permanently register as a sex offender—a detail that might make campaign meet-and-greets a tad awkward. President-elect Donald Trump has already weighed in, suggesting that New Yorkers aren’t keen on electing “perverts” to office. But in a city that’s seen its fair share of political scandals, who knows?
Weiner’s odds of achieving political redemption are about as long as the list of his past indiscretions. But in a world where reality often outpaces satire, perhaps we shouldn’t him out just yet.
In the meantime, New Yorkers are advised to keep their phones at the ready—not for any incoming messages from aspiring politicians, but to capture what promises to be one of the most entertaining political campaigns in recent memory. After all, in the world of Anthony Weiner, you never know what might pop up next.
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