After reports surfaced indicating disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner allegedly traded sexual messages with a 15-year-old girl, Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the conduct is “possibly criminal”—in addition to being “sick.”
The Daily Mail reported that Weiner had a sexual online relationship with the girl, a sophomore in high school, dating back to January. The girl—who claims Weiner knew her age—said he told her to undress and say his name over video chat, and that although Weiner would not get completely naked, he was typically shirtless and wearing boxers.
Weiner did not deny contacting the girl, but he gave the Daily Mail copies of two emails the girl sent him as proof that some of her claims are false.
“I’ve read the reports and let me say this: if the reports are true, it’s possibly criminal and it is sick,” Cuomo said at an unrelated press conference. “And frankly, I’ve heard enough about Anthony Weiner and I think that goes for all New Yorkers.”
This comes after his wife, Hillary Clinton lieutenant Huma Abedin" class="company-link">Huma Abedin, announced last month that she was separating from him after six years of marriage following revelations that he’d taken a semi-nude photo of his crotch with his small son in bed next to him. He sent the picture to a Republican woman with whom he was exchanging explicit photos last year, and she in turn shared it with the New York Post.
Weiner had confirmed to the New York Times that the Administration for Children’s Services had started investigating him. ACS has 60 days to complete an open investigation.
“ACS takes all allegations of child abuse seriously and we routinely investigate new allegations pertaining to current open cases. In order to protect children and their privacy, ACS does not comment on specific cases or allegations of child maltreatment,” the agency said in a statement.
Weiner’s repeated incidents of electronically exposing himself ruined his 12-year career in the House in 2011 when he accidentally posted a lewd photo on his Twitter account. He confessed that he had traded semi-nude photos online with six women and gave up his seat. The revelation that he continued to expose himself electronically then cost him his candidacy in the 2013 mayoral race, allowing Mayor Bill de Blasio to rise above him.
