As we discussed yesterday, Anthony Weiner was “outed” yet again for sexting inappropriately with a woman who is not his wife. The NY Post caught him, and by that I mean the woman must have sold her photos to the Post. So what was this all about? The woman is apparently a Republican and a Donald Trump supporter, and if you were interested in spinning a conspiracy theory about a GOP operative catfishing a vulnerable and sad Democrat, I would probably believe you. At least it seems like the third time was finally the last time for Weiner’s long-suffering wife, Huma Abedin. Huma is Hillary Clinton’s right hand woman and one of Clinton’s closest friends and colleagues. And Huma is finally done with Weiner. She announced the split yesterday, about 12 hours after the Post published the photos online. Huma released a statement as well:
“After long and painful consideration and work on my marriage, I have made the decision to separate from my husband,” Abedin said in a statement. “Anthony and I remain devoted to doing what is best for our son, who is the light of our life. During this difficult time, I ask for respect for our privacy.”
Weiner deleted his Twitter account too, because he was literally DM-ing this Republican woman constantly for more than a year. Weiner tried to explain himself, saying that he and the woman “have been friends for some time” and that they just chat about their nieces and nephews a lot. Except that the woman gave copies of all of Weiner’s messages and he was definitely coming on to her in really crude ways. MSNBC reports that Huma’s friends say that Huma and Weiner have been mostly separated the past few years and the formal separation has been a long time coming.
The worst part? Donald Trump decided to chime in! He issued a statement:
“Huma is making a very wise decision. I know Anthony Weiner well, and she will be far better off without him. I only worry for the country in that Hillary Clinton was careless and negligent in allowing Weiner to have such close proximity to highly classified information. Who knows what he learned and who he told? It’s just another example of Hillary Clinton’s bad judgment. It is possible that our country and its security have been greatly compromised by this.”
I’m not going to pretend that Trump doesn’t have some semblance of a point. Huma is one of Hillary Clinton’s closest advisors, and if Huma’s husband is compromised, that means there’s potential for Huma to be compromised, and that is cause for concern. Of course, it’s also worth pointing out: Weiner did nothing illegal. There’s no law against two consenting adults sexting each other over DMs. Weiner has shown poor judgment, not criminal negligence (from what we know at this point).
Now, all that being said… Donald Trump has absolutely no business discussing Clinton’s “bad judgment” for being loyal to Huma, especially considering Trump’s campaign associates, not to mention Trump himself. I mean, first there was Corey Lewindowski, the guy who assaulted a female reporter. There’s Trump’s current campaign CEO Steve Bannon, who was arrested for assaulting his wife in the 1990s (Bannon’s full history of bigotry and propaganda is also frightening). There was Trump’s old campaign manager Paul Manafort, who looked a hell of a lot like Russia’s paid “handler” for Trump. If Trump’s point is “you should be judged by the company you keep,” how is Huma Abedin’s situation somehow MORE compromised than half of Trump’s campaign staff?
Photos courtesy of WENN.
My SO used to work in intelligence. He left that world about 20 years ago and he has never shared a single piece of classified information with me. I assume Huma maintained the same standard with her husband.
Exactly. The sister of my close friend has worked in a high clearance job for 20 years and to this day her own mother does not even know what she does/for whom she works/where she works. I highly doubt Huma was running home and spilling to Anthony.
Yup! My good friend works in security, but I don’t know for what agency or what she does. Some people have professionalism and and understanding of the importance for security clearance, though I can see how Trump might fail to grasp that.
I agree 100%. Anyone who has ever had a security clearance know you do not divulge classified information to anyone, not even your spouse or SO. No exceptions. Makes me wonder if after Donald received his classified briefing, he went home and told Melania all about it.
Yep. My husband has clearance and I have no idea what he is working in. Ido know we have report all our international travel, that’s about it.
Didn’t Trump tweet after a security briefing?! Something about military bases in Saudi Arabia
Mine’s still it. And he won’t even give me anything classified (nor should he). Donald has zero points here.
Exactly! To add another anecdote, I have a relative who used to work for the CIA, but we only found out after she retired. We thought she worked for the Dep of State or for the ‘government’.
I doubt Huma was leaving national secrets laying on the breakfast table.
Well that’s because he’s a guy, and women can’t help but share everything with their husbands. /sarcasm.
Top secret clearance means you don’t share that information with your spouse. Male or female that’s a thing.
Exactly. What about all the men in the upper echelons of government who have affairs throughout the history of the US? Does he cast aspersions upon the people who appointed them? No. Because they’re men, and the people who appointed them are men. But now that it’s a woman, it’s a “security issue” because women just can’t keep their mouths shut.
But his supporters won’t even think about it like that.
I don’t think I could ever be with someone who would keep such a huge part of his life away from me.
My dad worked for the CIA my entire life, he retired a couple of years ago. My parents sat my brother and I down when we were young and explain the importance of keeping a secret and not telling people what my dad did or who he worked for. I used to tell people he worked for the State Department and it was never bothersome that I didn’t know exactly what he did. We live overseas (China and other Asian countries) until I was a teenager and I was always taught that information about my dad’s job was classified. When we lived in China our house and car were bugged (this is pretty common for Americans living there) and we were followed pretty regularly when we went out. My brother and I use to play a game where we “spot the spy”, the person or family who would just so happen to be going everywhere we were! =) Information is responsibility and divulging information, even something that seems small and innocuous, could cost lives.
Melly – you are Pam Focker! That is awesome!
@CMiddy
I have some fun stories about living in China and being followed/bugged. The building we lived in had a “mandatory” fire alarm check (only for the Americans) once every couple of months. After every check my mom would light a piece of paper on fire and hold it up to the alarms to try to set them off. The alarm never went off. Not even once. Turns out that the Chinese would bug the fire detectors. They also bugged our personal car and the school bus my brother & I took to school. We thought it was funny, only one time was it ever scary.
Men who gravitate towards these sorts of professions usually have this amazing ability to compartmentalize. My husband used to be one of them but even he, since having children, has started looking for a change of career field. It can be stressful always having to be on guard around the ones you love the most.
I could. And I can keep secrets too, easily. But I understand what you mean.
Unfortunately, the Donald’s sheep lap up any slop that falls out of his mouth. They’ll absolutely believe that Huma told Anthony everything.
My hubby of 26 years works a high clearance job, and to date has not shared anything with me, I never ask either, I respect the confidentiality agreement he signed and would never want to be the reason he breaks it and gets in trouble. I don’t think of it as him hiding a part of his work from me, I think of it as him being unable to share a part of his work due to legal restrictions.
I don’t buy the “Weiner had close proximity to highly classified information” part. Why do people think this? I think the two of them were co-parenting a child, not confiding classified info. But I do agree she is better off without him. He was a liability for sure.
I don’t buy it at all, either. That’s Trump just trying to see what might stick and I believe trying to incite the Benghazzers with more tidbits for their conspiracy-fueled faux outrage.
Trump being Trump and the reality is that he will NOT be able to keep his mouth shut and holds everyone to the same standard. If he wins we can expect tweets of confidential information almost daily. This man needs to go far, far away.
This makes no sense, like all of Trumps arguments.
Right? He just stinks of desperation and loser-ness.
Lmao @ “loser-ness”. Agreed.
But his followers believe every word. 🙁
How did Huma take relationship advice from Hilary though? that’s the part I dont get.
I think that was about standing by her man through the sex scandals. Just drawing attention once again to a reason people question Hillary’s ambition, integrity, etc. Apparently real women of integrity destroy their family’s lives once wronged and never forgive – at least in Trump’s mind. Not as if there are thousands of women who did the same who aren’t running for office…
Makes me wonder how a man would be judged in the same situation – but it’s almost never news when the wife cheats for some reason.
I am sure Hilary is an intelligent woman but on relationships? Erm no. Her and Bills’s arrangement worked for them because they probably had some arrangement and she had a plan for her own future but I doubt they have had any real marriage for a long long time. Huma is young. She could have restarted her life a couple of years ago. She is probably so close to Hilary that she can’t see the wood from the trees and is a bit of a “fixer”.
On a superficial note I think Huma is really pretty. She sort of reminds me of Amal Clooney; just a tad bit.
@Louise – The notion of a “real marriage” has not been consistent over time. Marriage based on love is actually a rather new concept in human history. Marriages are in fact contracts, and have been treated as such in many societies throughout time. While Hillary may side eye Bill’s carelessness in his sexual exploits, they may indeed have some arrangement. They may also share a mutual respect and admiration for each other. They may genuinely care for each other, but not necessarily be “in love.” If those are the terms of their relationship, then its still a “real marriage”. OTOH, the marriage could only be for political gain, in which case, I understand your sentiments. However, I think a genuine marraige can exist outside of being “head over heels” in love with each other. Also, marriage in the absence of monogamy seems odd to me, but given their political ambitions and the tax, legal, and insurance benefits that come with marriage, it almost forces such a commitment.
@V4Real – Agreed on the Amal connection. Although I like Huma’s presence more.
ETA: Also, given how politically ambitious they are, I’m assuming they have an understanding on a level that’s hard to find in others. Particularly for Hillary as a woman during her time.
I’m much less baffled by Bill and Hillary’s marriage than Huma’s and Weiner’s marriage. Both Bill and Hillary have benefited from being married to each other. What does Huma get out of being married to Weiner? He can’t even baby-sit properly.
I’ve read somewhere that Billary didn’t want her to marry him in the first place, regardless of Bill officiating and the engagement party being held at the Clinton house in Chappaqua.
And Donald Trump has absolutely no sense of decency. No morals. He keeps stooping lower and lower. He’s in negative range now.
Donald Trump is truly a POS. What the hell does this have to do with Clinton’s judgement? She wasn’t married to that turd.
My thoughts exactly.
There is no sense in Trump’s argument – none! Hillary has bad judgement because one of her closest friends is married to a douchebag? Huma Abedin did nothing wrong – it was her husband who made disrespectful (towards his wife) and stupid decisions. The woman who works with Hillary hasn’t done anything… oh…except being a woman? Is it that, Donald? That one of Hillary’s closest confidantes is a woman? And Huma is sharing every information with her husband because she is a blabbing woman? And of course he is blabbing superdupersecret information hidden in sexting?!
He is such a turd.
I honestly don’t even know what to say any more about that orange turd and the entire election in general. This entire cycle has just made me realize that you cannot put anyone on a pedestal and hope and pray that they make your life better. You have to actively keep watch on everyone and try to hold everyone accountable for the promises they make. This is a daunting task that I don’t think is fully possible to achieve. Most especially when we are all trying to fight for different things.
I buy they’ve been mostly separated. She’s been on the campaign trail and has said she couldn’t do it without have him as a mostly stay-at-home dad (since he doesnt work much anyway) and her in-laws’ help, etc, knowing Jordan is taken care of when she’s gone. She is the main financial support for this household and why she worked a second job. She will be supporting him for sure now. When she moves to DC, at least he won’t fight for custody with such incriminating evidence, the toddler in his dick pic.
An article in WAPO actually said “people question her judgment for leaving her son with him while she is on the campaign trail with Hillary”. I just about exploded.
I think Donnie is just jealous because small hands, you know. And someone other than him is getting lots of attention. He is such a pathetic excuse for a person.
If Trump thinks Huma is sharing classified information with her husband, it tells me more about him than her.
Exactly
+1000
So true. I’m a lot more worried about Trump getting classified briefings.
The weirdest detail in this whole thing to me is learning that Anthony Weiner’s post-bombed-mayoral-campaign job was working for a PR firm. As what, an object lesson? Don’t do what this guy did?
I also think assuming Huma was indiscreet with confidential info is a bridge too far. She’s been working for and loyal to Hillary for longer than she’s known Weiner, and I imagine that for Hillary discretion and loyalty are especially important. I would be shocked if Huma had spilled to Weiner. And if we’re playing three degrees of separation from bad judgment, Trump is far and away the worst.
We’ll know who holds the cards if and when they divorce. If Huma rolls over, we’ll know the Weiner likely has something (which I highly doubt given all the details.)
He likely has nothing on her. If he did, she would have put out a more friendly statement. In this statement she says “I’m separating from this man”, not “we mutually agreed to take a break”.
Ofcourse they didn’t let him near anything important. That’s why he was so bored, he spends his days watching the boy in that penthouse apartment while Huma travels constantly. He got bored and entertained himself with constant sexting. Huma should have gotten him a sext robot or hired some democrat friendly person to catfish him until the campaign is over
Bizarre comment to blame Abedin for Weiner’s problem. Most adults of either sex when bored don’t do what he did and wives are not responsible for supervising their husbands.
I am going to got out on a limb and say Murphy was being sarcastic.
I was partially being sarcastic–yes no woman should have to babysit her husband like that but during the campaign when toeing the line is a must-it potentially was the only way to keep him buttoned up until after the election.
If this was just some random year and nothing was on the line then there’s no way I would have suggested that.
I suspect only a catfish would be interested in sexting with that weasel. No disrespect to weasels.
Weasels are absolutely charming compared to a rotting pumpkin.
Donald Trump should mind his own business. I remember about 20+ years ago when he was making gossip news when his first wife caught in with Marla Maples cheating on her at the same skiing lodge. Then for months after that he was in the news with his scandal cheating on his wife. He then marries Marla when she became pregnant. He was also trying to hide his money so that he would not have to give Ivana Trump her fair share. Ivana was the one running the business and he was crying that he as broke. Ivana was the one who raised the three children. DT said he was the one who provided the cash for the family but the mother was the one who did the work with the children. I remember when DT once said he never changes a pampers on any of his children and never took them out for a walk. Now I see lots of people saying what a great job he did with his children and never give the first wife of how they turned out. Not even the two boys and the girl ever say anything about their mother should get more credit of how they are. Btw, I don’t believe they are that great people. Just people with money and privilege.
I totally agree. There is no doubt in my mind he was detached from them. You can tell just from their speeches at the RNC. I believe Ivana is quiet because her $$ are tied to a NDA. But all the stuff that leaked out, like him abusing her, I believe them.
Interesting!
Anthony Weiner really took the cake so disturbing the photo with his son….so disturbing on many levels. He is beyond help…
Trump’s on his 3rd marriage. He shouldn’t be commenting on anybody’s relationship.
Exactly. Sheesh.
word
I think the best comment I read on this elsewhere is that Anthony Weiner is proof that the Clintons don’t have people killed. Seriously, what an ahole. He can’t even lock it down for potentially the biggest year of his wife’s career. I think Huma is fascinating and she has good style. Look forward to seeing what she wears when working at the white house.
Huma is beautiful and once she’s legally free of that idiot I bet she’ll look a lot happier than she does in that top photo.
I think she has good style and is well-groomed and fits a certain standard of attractiveness in terms of being well-presented, but I don’t get it when the media insists she’s beautiful (perhaps that sounds meaner than intended, and I concede is only my opinion). She’s like Amal Clooney to me in that regard — does the media keep saying it over and over again hoping that those of us who are unconvinced will start to believe it?
No doubt she’s way better looking than Anthony Weiner though, and I don’t get what she saw in him looks-wise or personality-wise.
I love her style too.
I don’t believe DT has any point whatsoever. He simply takes everything that happens on a daily basis and attempts to spin it into season to vote for him.
The Richness of this Irony of Donald serial trader of wives lecturing or having any sort of opinion on anyone’s marriage is just… fattening
He has no semblance of a point whatsoever, but he has proven yet again that there is no personal tragedy he won’t try to exploit in a crass and nonsensical way for his own opportunistic gain. It’s beyond belief that this man sees fit to comment on the marriage of a staffer on the opposing campaign. He should worry about his own character/judgment and the dreadful and truly frightening and unhinged company he’s keeping — and giving high-level positions to. Not to mention the hypocrisy and stupidity of commenting on someone else’s marital fidelity and sexual morality when you have a string of marriages and affairs behind you.
Huma and her husband appear to have been more or less separated since his last scandal. I don’t know why anyone thinks it’s reasonable to assume that his indiscreet and humiliating sexual behavior (that should really only matter to his wife and family) means somehow national security has been compromised! For the love of God, why would anyone assume that because Weiner is doing something bad that Huma’s personal and professional integrity is also compromised? Does anyone really think she was sharing classified information with him as pillow talk? She is extremely close to the Clintons and has been for two decades. The relationship is much longer than her marriage and probably much closer at this point! She is known for her professionalism and loyalty. I doubt she is going to compromise one of the greatest relationships of her personal and professional life (with Hillary) to share anything with this boob. Give her some credit. She is not dumb.
@Jessica, spot on.
“Donald Trump has some thoughts…”
Can I just stop you there
Great points, Kaiser and everyone. Dan Savage has a thoughtful viewpoint at http://www.savagelovecast.com/ (episode 514).
Trump’s point, ironically, is the same one that could be made about a president or some other individual in a high security position having affairs. By engaging in such activity, they subject themselves to blackmail/compromise. They also, oftentimes, do stupid stuff while caught up in the sex fog. Exhibit A — David Petraus gave classified info to his mistress/ghost writer. That’s why he was hammered (and deservedly so).
Given Trump’s behavior, he is the last one to be talking about judgment when it comes to aligning oneself with individuals guilty of less than ethical sexual conduct.
I doubt Huma allows her husband to use Hillary’s email to sext people so I’m not sure I understand Donald Trump’s point.
I’m fuming.
It was not Lewandowsky’s wife who worked for the Trump campaign, when Corey manhandled the reporter. It wasn’t Bannon’s sister who worked for the Trump campaign when it came out he was a wife beater. Neither was it the wife or daughter of Manafort who worked for the Trump campaign when Manafort handled money for a pro Putin politician in the Ukraine. The guys themselves, with no degree of separation whatsoever, were, or are,right at the center of the Trump campaign.
How about Ailes? How about, for crying out loud, Katrina Pierson’s abysmal incompetence? Melania’s unclear immigration story?
Why, for the love of God, are women judged for the bad choices of their husbands? This has nothing to do with the campaign. Nothing. Zilch. Nada.
I am so glad when this is over. And then I do not want to hear from Trump ever again.
Why would Trump think he is the moral authority on cheating? He actually stated Marla Maples was the best sex he had ever had, WHILE still married to Ivana….he’s a big, orange troll.
DT is a shameless opportunist. The irony is rich here, so very rich!
Weiner has some sort of problem, not sure what it would be classified as, but the self destructive behavior is sickening. His wide deserves better, much better!
No, actually it was Marla who said that Donald was the best sex she ever had. The Donald and Marla were indeed shameless in their affair. He would have Marla booked into the very same hotel in which his family was staying. Once the shyte hit the fan – with Ivana publicly confronting Maples on the ski slopes and screaming, “Stay away from my husband!” – the marriage disintegrated.
Trump and Maples did not marry until several months AFTER the birth of their child Tiffany. Due to a need for DNA testing? Or perhaps Marla wanted to be able to fit into her dream wedding dress. Whatever.
The Trump-Maples union dissolved within a year after Marla and her hunky young bodyguard/driver were discovered by Palm Beach police at 3:00AM on the beach together just a few miles from the Trump estate. The bodyguard at first attempted to convince police he was on the beach alone, but eventually Marla emerged from hiding under a lifeguard tower.
At the time Marla attempted to explain the incident by saying she “needed to pee”. Several years afterward the bodyguard confessed that they had been having a “relationship”.
The bodyguard died some years later of a drug overdose. Marla Maples moved to California, worked as an actress/singer, and raised daughter Tiffany as a single mom. She too has not had much of anything to say about The Donald over the years.
With Ivana there was a non-disclosure agreement signed at the time of the divorce, because Trump tried to invoke it when Ivana wrote a novel that was a thinly disguised version of their marriage. He likely also demanded one of Maples also.
Forgot to add: I agree that by no measurement is Huma “beautiful”. Come on, folks! She may be ” a well put together woman” or even “an attractive woman” – but the word “beautiful” just does not apply. Actually, in the photo above she appears to be slightly cross-eyed.