After Conviction and Scandals, Ex-Congressman Eyes Return to Politics in Lower Manhattan

Former U.S. Representative Anthony Weiner, whose political career was derailed by sexting scandals and a conviction for illicit online contact with a minor, is considering a return to the political stage by running for a seat on the New York City Council. Weiner, once a rising star in the Democratic Party, has filed to run for a council position in lower Manhattan, marking a potential comeback after years of legal and personal setbacks.

On Friday, campaign finance records revealed that a committee named “Weiner 25” was established, formally listing him as a candidate. However, in an interview on Tuesday, Weiner, who represented a congressional district in New York for over a decade, clarified that he was still “exploring” the possibility of running. He stated that his decision hinges on personal factors, adding that he had set up the committee to engage in an upcoming forum with the Downtown Independent Democrats.

Weiner, who resigned from Congress in 2011 following a sexting scandal involving explicit photos sent to multiple women, attempted a political comeback in 2013 with a mayoral run. However, his campaign was marred by further revelations of lewd messages sent under the alias “Carlos Danger.”

In 2017, Weiner pleaded guilty to engaging in illicit online conversations with a 15-year-old girl, resulting in a 21-month sentence in federal prison. He was released in 2019 and placed on the sex offender registry. Despite his troubled past, Weiner is now pondering the logistics and personal dynamics of re-entering the political arena.