Anthony Weiner's Wife in Hillary Clinton's 2016 Campaign? It Was 'A Joke,' Says NYC Mayoral Candidate (VIDEO)
Anthony Weiner was forced to backtrack and explain what he meant by comments that his wife, Huma Abedin, was working on Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. He called the comments he made during an interview "a joke" and said he would not comment further about what role Abedin may play in Clinton's future.
Ben Smith from Buzzfeed asked Weiner if he knew anything about Abedin's role in the 2016 campaign. "I do," Weiner replied, "but I'm not telling you."
That led to further speculation that Clinton is indeed planning a 2016 presidential run, and Weiner's comments hinted that his wife would remain close to her mentor, Hillary, in her next bid. Some have said that Abedin, Weiner, and the Clintons have distanced themselves after the numerous scandals Weiner has been involved in.
Now, though, Weiner has walked-back his comments and said he has "no insight" into Hillary's plans for 2016.
"I'm struggling right here in 2013," he told ABC. "If you read the transcript, the question was, 'Do you know what my wife is doing?' The answer is yes. It is a joke. Everyone laughed."
"I was asked a question about the plan of my wife and I made a lighthearted answer that everyone in the room laughed at – apparently except you. For that I apologize," Weiner added. "I'll make the jokes more obvious."
During the mayoral event, he noted that his scandal not only hurt his credibility in the mayoral race but hurt his wife's professional reputation as well. She relied on her friendship with Hillary to help get her through the photo scandal last year, but the Clintons have not been seen with either Weiner or Abedin and have not spoken publicly about the situation.
"I feel that what I've done has hurt her. It's hurt her professionally, it's hurt her personally," Weiner said.
"This isn't a story that anybody, particularly the Clintons, are happy to see splashed over the front pages and all over the news relentlessly," former White House press secretary Dee Dee Myers told CBS in July. "I think they as much as anyone would like to see this go away."
Watch video of Weiner's comments here:
