Disgraced Ex-Congressman Weiner Receives Campaign Donation From Unexpected New Yorker in New Race

Former Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner is back in the spotlight with his latest campaign for New York City Council, and it seems his comeback trail is as unexpected as his past controversies. Among his campaign donors are none other than his ex-wife, Huma Abedin, and her sister, Heba Abedin—yes, the very same Huma Abedin who once said Weiner's sex scandals "almost killed her." Talk about complicated relationships.

Huma Abedin donated $175 to Weiner's campaign on March 13, while Heba Abedin contributed $150 on December 29, 2024, according to New York City campaign finance reports. The donations come as Weiner tries to rebuild his political career, which has been in shambles since his infamous sexting scandals. His new campaign for NYC City Council marks a return to the position he held from 1992 to 1998 before his career took a nosedive.

Weiner first made headlines in 2011 when he resigned from Congress after posting a photo of himself in his underwear on social media. Over the following years, he became embroiled in various sexual scandals, including sexting a minor in 2016, which led to a federal conviction. He served 21 months in prison and was released in 2019, though his name remains synonymous with scandal.

Huma Abedin, a longtime aide to Hillary Clinton, expressed her devastation over Weiner's actions during a 2021 interview with CBS "Sunday Morning." "I can't live in that space anymore. I tried that. It almost killed me," she said, reflecting on the toll the scandals took on her. Abedin filed for divorce on the same day Weiner was sentenced to prison. The couple co-parents their son, and they were seen attending a charity event together in 2023, sparking rumors of reconciliation.

Abedin has since moved on, announcing her engagement to Alex Soros, son of billionaire George Soros, in July 2024. The couple is set to marry this summer, while Weiner attempts his latest political comeback. Clearly, life goes on—even for those entangled in the messiest of public scandals.

Weiner's past attempts at a comeback have been less than successful. His 2013 mayoral campaign was derailed by fresh revelations of explicit photos, and a 2016 sexting scandal involving a 15-year-old girl led to further legal troubles. Investigators even discovered emails on Weiner's laptop linked to Clinton's classified documents scandal during the 2016 election.

After his release from prison in 2019, Weiner was ordered to register as a sex offender and reportedly entered rehab for sex addiction. Despite these efforts, his reputation remains tarnished, making this new campaign an uphill battle.

Neither Abedin nor Weiner responded to requests for comment about the campaign donations. But one thing is clear: in the world of politics, second chances are hard to come by—especially when your name is Anthony Weiner.