Disgraced ex-Congressman Weiner receives campaign donation from unexpected New Yorker in new race

Fox News - Mar 20th, 2025
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Former congressman Anthony Weiner, known for his past sexual scandals, has announced a new campaign for the New York City Council. Surprisingly, his ex-wife, Huma Abedin, and her sister, Heba Abedin, have donated to his campaign, despite Weiner's history of sexting scandals that led to his resignation from Congress in 2011 and a 21-month prison sentence in 2017. Weiner’s attempt to reclaim a political position comes after multiple failed comebacks, including a mayoral run in 2013, derailed by further controversies.

This development highlights the complicated personal and political dynamics surrounding Weiner, who was once a rising Democratic star before his fall from grace. The support from Abedin, a prominent political figure and former aide to Hillary Clinton, adds an unexpected twist to Weiner's campaign. Meanwhile, Abedin, who has publicly spoken about the personal toll of Weiner's scandals, is now engaged to Alex Soros. The story underscores themes of redemption, loyalty, and the enduring impact of past transgressions in public life.

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RATING

6.6
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The news story provides a detailed account of Anthony Weiner's political aspirations and personal history, focusing on his campaign for the New York City Council and the support from his ex-wife, Huma Abedin. While the article is largely accurate and timely, it lacks some transparency in sourcing and could benefit from a more balanced presentation of perspectives.

The story engages readers by addressing topics of public interest, such as political comebacks and personal redemption. However, its potential impact on public opinion and policy is limited by a lack of in-depth analysis of broader implications. Overall, the article is well-written and accessible, but it could improve by incorporating a wider range of viewpoints and providing more direct access to its sources.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The story presents a generally accurate account of Anthony Weiner's political activities and personal history. The claims about Weiner's campaign for the New York City Council, the donations from Huma and Heba Abedin, and his past legal issues are verifiable and largely consistent with known facts. For instance, the article accurately reports Weiner's resignation from Congress in 2011 due to a scandal and his subsequent legal troubles.

However, some details require further verification, such as the exact amounts and dates of donations from Huma and Heba Abedin. Additionally, while the story mentions Abedin's engagement to Alex Soros, it lacks confirmation from other sources. Overall, while the story is mostly accurate, some claims need additional corroboration to ensure full precision.

6
Balance

The article largely focuses on Anthony Weiner's past scandals and his current political ambitions, which can skew the narrative towards a negative portrayal. It briefly mentions Huma Abedin's perspective but does not delve into her current views or any potential reconciliation with Weiner.

The story could benefit from a more balanced presentation by including perspectives from Weiner's supporters or those who may believe in his political comeback. Additionally, insights from political analysts or experts on the implications of his candidacy would provide a more rounded view. The lack of diverse viewpoints suggests a moderate imbalance in the article's coverage.

8
Clarity

The article is written in a clear and straightforward manner, making it easy for readers to follow the narrative. It provides a chronological account of Anthony Weiner's political career and personal controversies, which helps maintain a logical flow.

However, the inclusion of extraneous details, such as the mention of President Joe Biden awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Alex Soros, creates some confusion as it is not directly relevant to the main story. Overall, the language is accessible, but trimming unnecessary information would improve clarity.

7
Source quality

The article cites Fox News Digital as its primary source, which is a well-known media outlet with a significant reach. However, it relies heavily on internal reporting without indicating whether it corroborated the information with independent sources. The mention of campaign finance reports provides a factual basis for some claims, but direct links or references to these documents are absent.

The story also references past media appearances and public statements by Huma Abedin, which adds credibility. Nonetheless, the article would benefit from a broader range of sources, such as statements from political analysts or official campaign representatives, to enhance its reliability.

5
Transparency

The article lacks transparency in terms of providing direct access to the sources of its claims, such as the campaign finance reports or direct quotes from interviews with the involved parties. While it mentions that Fox News Digital reviewed these reports, it does not offer readers the opportunity to examine the data themselves.

Furthermore, the article does not disclose whether there were attempts to reach out to other sources or experts for additional context. The absence of this information limits the transparency of the reporting process and how conclusions were reached.

Sources

  1. https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2024/12/10/anthony-weiner-files-papers-for-city-council-run
  2. https://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/anthony-weiner-nyc-mayor-race-2013-096597
  3. https://www.foxnews.com/media/former-rep-anthony-weiner-new-podcast-spotify-intention-mayor
  4. https://gothamist.com/news/brooklyn-elections-boss-promotes-fundraiser-for-anthony-weiner-in-nyc-council-race
  5. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/anthony-weiner-mulls-return-disgraced-ex-pol-says-new-york-city-needs-new-leadership