By Mark Hallum
Disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner, who represented Queens and Brooklyn, pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court Friday to transmitting obscene material to a minor.
He is facing a sentence of 21 to 27 months behind bars.
Weiner, 52, tearfully read from a prepared statement in the courtroom of Judge Loretta Preska, apologizing to the 15-year-old victim and her family and explaining that he accepted “full responsibility for my conduct. I have a sickness, but I do not have an excuse.”
The former Democratic politician had an office in Forest Hills until it was revealed in 2011 that he had tweeted graphic images of himself to a Seattle college student. What later became known as “Weinergate” was the beginning of the end for the mayoral hopeful who admitted to lying to the public, the media and members of Congress as well as his wife, Huma Abedin, who was a longtime staffer for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
He went on to resign from his office, leading to the victory of Bob Turner in a special election over now-Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Fresh Meadows) before the district was reorganized.
Weiner re-emerged on the public scene last fall when investigators into his sexting activities found that Abedin had sent emails to a laptop they shared, sparking fears that these messages may have compromised Clinton’s State Department activities.
Then FBI Director James Comey issued a public statement prior to the election that the Clinton emails were under investigation, a move Clinton contends may have cost her the presidency.
Comey later cleared her of any wrongdoing just days before the election.
Weiner’s sentencing was scheduled for Sept. 9 at 11 a.m.
Reach reporter Mark Hallum by e-mail at mhall
