Child Welfare Agency Investigating Weiner After Latest Photo Episode
Anthony Weiner’s latest photo escapade has resulted in an investigation into his fitness as a parent.
On Monday, news organizations began publishing a photo of Weiner that he sent to a woman showing the former congressman in bed next to his son.
As reported by Western Journalism, the lewd photo showed “a bulge in his white, Jockey-brand boxer briefs and his son cuddled up to his left, wrapped in a light-green blanket.”
When the pictures hit the papers, calls for an investigation soon followed.
“The photo and story worry me as a senator, a minister, a parent, and a grandfather, because I believe that the disregard for any boundaries of sexual activity with a child present is incredibly inappropriate, and could have a harmful impact on the child,” Democratic New York State Sen. Reuben Diaz said Monday. “I urge the city of New York’s Administration for Children’s Services to investigate this case carefully and thoroughly.”
The child welfare agency has since launched an investigation into how Weiner cares for his son, The New York Post reported, citing “a city government source.”
The Post reported that city staff made a home visit to the apartment building where Weiner lives, in keeping with the agency’s rules and regulations.
Weiner told the Post Wednesday he had not been interviewed by the agency.
However, other sources said an investigation was inevitable.
“From what it looked like, (Weiner) is possibly exposing his child to an imminent risk of harm. This is something ACS looks into for much less situations … ACS is mandated to protect children from cases of suspected abuse and or neglect,” said Mark Feldman, a divorce and custody lawyer in New York City.
“Any time adults draw children into their own sexual activity, they have crossed the line. It is always inappropriate for an adult to connect any child to their sexual activities, however peripheral,” said Tim Hathaway, executive director at Prevent Child Abuse New York.
ACS said it is the agency’s policy not to comment about whether it is conducting an ongoing investigation.
Weiner’s wife, Huma Abedin — who is vice chairwoman of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign — announced Monday that she was separating from Weiner after the latest revelation hit the newspapers.
Abedin and Weiner were married in 2010. He resigned from Congress in 2011 amid a scandal over his sexting, the same habit that derailed his 2013 attempt to run for mayor of New York City. (For more from the author of “Child Welfare Agency Investigating Weiner After Latest Photo Episode” please click HERE)
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