Humiliated Weiner admits to Twitter sex pics
US congressman, renowned for his use of social media, caught sending ‘bulge’ shot to female followers
From America, a lesson in the perils of social networking, where Democrat congressman Anthony Weiner has been forced to issue a groveling apology to his wife at a press conference where he admitted sending explicit pictures of himself to women on Twitter and Facebook and having phone sex with strangers. The 46-year-old, who was tipped to run for mayor of New York in 2013, is refusing to resign over the scandal, insisting that he has not broken any rules. But he has been made a laughing stock after the photos he sent to various women - including the now infamous 'bulge' picture of his Y-fronts (above) - were published online. To make it all the more embarrassing, Weiner, who represents Queens and Brooklyn in Congress, is renowned for being tech-savvy. As US website Politico put it: "Weiner, more than almost any other lawmaker, understood how to exploit social media." However, he made a fundamental error at the end of last month when he sent the aforementioned bulge-shot to a woman on Twitter, forgetting to make it private and instead posting it for the world to see. The picture had apparently been intended for Seattle student Gennette Cordova but soon found its way onto a website run by conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart. When the story broke, Weiner responded by claiming his account had been hacked, but at yesterday’s humiliating press conference in Manhattan, with his nemesis Breitbart in attendance, he admitted: "To be clear, the picture was of me and I sent it." He also told the assembled media: "Over the past few years I have engaged in several inappropriate conversations conducted over Twitter, Facebook, email and occasionally on the phone with women I had met online." That appears to have been confirmed by other women who have come forward. Among them are 26-year-old Meagan Broussard who was sent the 'bulge' picture on May 18, and Las Vegas blackjack dealer Lisa Weiss who claims she had phone sex with the politician. During the press conference Weiner broke down as he apologised to his wife, Huma Abedin, a senior aide to Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, but refused to resign, saying: "I don't believe I did anything here that violates any law or violates my oath to my constituents," he said.
However, Nancy Pelosi the leader of the Democrats in Congress has announced an investigation and Weiner is said to face an uncertain future.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
What is cloud seeding and did it cause Dubai's severe rainfall?
The Explainer The future is flooded
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
American Airlines pilots are warning of a 'significant spike' in safety issues
In the Spotlight The pilot's union listed 'problematic trends' they say are affecting the airline's fleet
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
6 star-spangled presidential libraries to visit
The Week Recommends These institutions provide insight into American leaders
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published
-
Rishi Sunak and the right-wing press: heading for divorce?
Talking Point The Telegraph launches 'assault' on PM just as many Tory MPs are contemplating losing their seats
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
How the biggest election year in history might play out
The Explainer Votes in world's biggest democracies, as well as its most 'despotic' and 'stressed' countries, face threats of violence and suppression
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'The decline of Twitter, and the race to replace it, is in a sense a sideshow'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published