Girl sexting Anthony Weiner 'was trying to influence US presidential election', lawyers claim
Hillary Clinton partially blames defeat on email probe prompted when ex-congressman's laptop was seized
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The teenage girl sent sexual images by New York politician Anthony Weiner targeted the former congressman to “influence” the 2016 Presidential election, it has been claimed.
Mr Weiner’s lawyers have told a court that the child, 15 at the time, was trying “to generate material for a book the Government has disclosed she is now shopping to publishers”.
She also wanted “to somehow influence the US presidential election, in addition to securing personal profit,” they added in a filing ahead of the 53-year-old’s sentencing in the sexting case, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The case became mixed up in the investigation into the emails of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton when Mr Weiner’s laptop was seized.
Investigators found emails belonging to Huma Abedin, his now-estranged wife and a top Clinton aide, on the device, and it prompted the opening of a new inquiry by then-FBI director James Comey.
Ms Clinton partly credits Mr Comey with having cost her the election.
Mr Weiner is hoping to avoid jail time, it is reported.
His lawyers say he is ill and had previously demonstrated “an addict’s self-serving delusion that the communications were all just internet fantasy”.
According to the New York Times, Mr Weiner wrote separately to the judge and said: “Every day I quietly do what I can to keep getting better, and to fix the damage I’ve done.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.