Anthony Weiner Takes Center Stage in Presidential Race About Men's Sex Lives

As a fractious and often sordid presidential campaign reaches its denouement, Hillary Clinton may be reflecting upon the grim irony that it is Anthony Weiner who has provided what could be the final, miserable twist.

Weiner’s predilection for sending sexually laden text messages derailed his career in Congress and his chances of becoming mayor of New York City, but his soap-opera-style re-emergence in the 11th hour of the presidential race may yet trigger the greatest political carnage of all.

His appearance comes in an election already defined by allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour by Clinton’s husband, former president Bill Clinton, and by the Republican nominee, Donald Trump.

On Friday, Clinton called on the FBI to “immediately” explain its announcement that it was reviewing a new batch of emails relating to her, after a review of her use of a private email server was closed in July.

Then, the FBI director, James Comey, said Clinton had been “extremely careless” in her use of a private server while secretary of state, but said there were no grounds for a criminal investigation. Guilty as Sin: Uncover... Edward Klein Best Price: $1.84 Buy New $7.26 (as of 06:45 UTC - Details)

On Friday, he said in a letter to members of Congress that the bureau would analyze newly discovered emails that “appear to be pertinent to the investigation”. Republicans were quick to characterise the move as a “reopening” of the investigation into Clinton’s server, a description Democrats rejected.

It was later reported that the new emails came from an iPad, cellphone and laptop seized by the FBI and previously shared by Weiner and his estranged wife Huma Abedin, a top Clinton aide.

Clinton’s campaign and the Obama administration have been left bewildered by the latest FBI intervention, less than two weeks before the election, with Weiner’s involvement rubbing salt into the wound.

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John Podesta, Clinton’s campaign chairman, said: “Director Comey’s letter refers to emails that have come to light in an unrelated case, but we have no idea what those emails are and the director himself notes they may not even be significant.

Hillary the Other Woma... Dolly Kyle Best Price: $0.25 Buy New $5.44 (as of 08:25 UTC - Details) “It is extraordinary that we would see something like this just 11 days out from a presidential election.”

Vice-president Joe Biden was more direct, telling CNN’s Michael Smerconish in an interview broadcast on Saturday: “Well, oh God, Anthony Weiner. I should not comment on Anthony Weiner. I’m not a big fan. I wasn’t before he got in trouble.”

Weiner is being investigated by the FBI and police in North Carolina over text messages sent to a 15-year-old girl. In the wake of the latest allegations against him, Abedin, who has herself been a target for criticism from Republicans for some time, separated from Weiner. She has continued in her role as Clinton’s closest ally on the campaign trail.

Once seen as a rising Democratic star, Weiner was forced to resign from Congressin 2011 after he sent a picture of his penis, clad in his boxer shorts, to a 21-year-old student via Twitter. After he initially denied involvement in the messages, further pictures sent by Weiner emerged and he stepped down, at the urging of Barack Obama.

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