Disgraced former congressman Anthony Weiner apologised Wednesday — and claimed to be the subject of a hoax — after a media outlet reported he had sent lewd messages to a 15-year-old girl, according to a report on Buzzfeed.
The teen told the Daily Mail the two exchanged messages between January and March of this year after she first sent him a private message on Twitter. The pair then used multiple social platforms — including Facebook, Skype, and Confide, an app that deletes messages once viewed — to exchange sexually charged language. The Mail did not identify the girl, citing her age.
In some of the Jan. 24 messages, Weiner, 51, told the teen he woke up “eager,” was trying to “[conjure an] image” of her showering, and thought her getting dressed for the gym “[sounded] alluring.”
The teen told the newspaper the two also had Skype conversations in which Weiner reportedly requested she undress. He also allegedly shared pornographic videos with her.
Child welfare workers opened an investigation into Weiner after one of the pictures showed the congressman’s crotch next to the couple’s young son in bed.
I have repeatedly demonstrated terrible judgement about the people I have communicated with online and the things I have sent.I am filled with regret and heartbroken for those I have hurt.
While I have provided the Daily Mail with information showing that I have likely been the subject of a hoax, I have no one to blame but me for putting myself in this position.
I am sorry.
Weiner did provide BuzzFeed News with a copy of a May 13 email the girl sent to a teacher, which she also CC’d to him, telling the teacher she had fabricated allegations about Weiner.
The teen told the Daily Mail she sent the email to a fake address — not actually one that belonged to her teacher — after feeling “pressured” to retract confessions she had made about their relationship to her father and the teacher.
The girl told the Mail she did not wish to press charges because she believes her relationship with Weiner was “consensual” and “romantic.”
The US attorney for the Southern District of New York did not return a request for comment on possible investigations into Weiner’s conduct. A spokesperson for the Manhattan district attorney declined to comment.
