It’s hard to remember a time when Anthony Weiner and Huma Abedin weren't synonymous with the "political scandal of the century." Honestly, if you lived through the 2016 election cycle, their names probably trigger a specific kind of stress. One was the rising star of the Democratic party with a temper like a blowtorch and a mouth to match; the other was the elegant, mysterious "second daughter" to Hillary Clinton.
Then everything broke.
Most people remember the broad strokes—the "Carlos Danger" alias, the laptop, the FBI letter that some say changed history. But the actual story of what happened behind the scenes, and where they both ended up by early 2026, is a lot more complicated than a tabloid headline. It’s a story about public shame, a messy 2025 political comeback attempt, and a very high-profile wedding in the Hamptons that officially closed the book on their marriage.
The Relationship That Defined an Era
They weren't supposed to be a match. Weiner was the quintessential loudmouthed New Yorker, a guy who lived for the fight on the House floor. Abedin was the opposite—raised partly in Saudi Arabia, deeply private, and fiercely loyal to the Clinton inner circle. When they married in 2010, with Bill Clinton officiating, it looked like the ultimate power merger.
It didn't last.
The first scandal hit in 2011. You know the one: the grey boxers photo sent to a 21-year-old in Seattle that Weiner initially claimed was the work of a hacker. He eventually admitted to "inappropriate" exchanges with six women. Abedin, pregnant at the time, stood by him.
Why? People still ask that.
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In her 2021 memoir, Both/And: A Life in Many Worlds, Abedin was pretty blunt about it. She described feeling like she was in a plane "coming apart at the seams." She stayed because she believed in the person she thought he was. She stayed through the 2013 mayoral race, even when the "Carlos Danger" revelations proved he hadn't actually stopped.
The Breaking Point and the FBI Laptop
The real end came in August 2016. The New York Post published a photo Weiner had sent to a woman—a selfie of him in bed next to their young son. That was the final straw for Abedin. She announced their separation immediately.
But the ghost of their marriage wasn't done with the world yet.
In October 2016, the FBI seized Weiner's laptop while investigating his messages to a 15-year-old girl. On that device, they found thousands of emails belonging to Abedin. This led to FBI Director James Comey’s infamous letter to Congress just days before the election.
Abedin later wrote that if Hillary Clinton lost because of her and her husband, she didn't know how she would live with herself. It’s a heavy burden to carry, and it basically defined her public image for the next decade.
Where Are They Now? The 2026 Reality
Fast forward to today. The lives of Anthony Weiner and Huma Abedin have diverged in ways nobody could have predicted ten years ago.
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Anthony Weiner’s 2025 Comeback Attempt
Believe it or not, Weiner tried to get back into the game. In late 2024, he filed paperwork to run for a New York City Council seat (District 2) in the 2025 election. He pitched himself as a "fighter" for the middle class, using the slogan "25 ideas for 2025."
It didn't go well.
The voters weren't exactly ready for a Weiner Renaissance. He finished in fourth place in the July 2025 Democratic primary, getting only about 10% of the vote. Since then, he’s mostly been a peripheral figure, occasionally appearing on local radio or giving "informal advice" to campaigns, but his days as a front-line politician are effectively over.
Huma Abedin’s "Royal" Wedding to Alex Soros
Abedin’s path has been much more "prestige." After years of being the "woman behind the candidate," she finally stepped into her own light. The biggest news? Her 2025 wedding to Alex Soros, the son of billionaire George Soros.
This wasn't just a quiet ceremony. It was dubbed the "wedding of the liberal royalty."
The details were wild:
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- Two Ceremonies: They honored both her Muslim faith (the Nikah) and his Jewish heritage (the Ketubah).
- The Guest List: Basically a who’s-who of Democratic power, including the Clintons and Kamala Harris.
- The Proposal: Alex reportedly proposed at home with the ring tucked inside a takeout bag, calling it "dessert."
Their divorce was finalized in 2025, just before she remarried. Abedin seems to have finally shed the "shame" she talked so much about in her book. She’s still working closely with Hillary Clinton as her Chief of Staff, proving that some loyalties never break.
Why This Story Still Matters
We talk about Anthony Weiner and Huma Abedin because they represent the intersection of personal failure and national consequence. Their story changed the trajectory of the U.S. presidency. It's a reminder of how the private actions of one person can ripple outward and change the world for millions.
What most people get wrong is thinking this was just a "bad marriage." It was a collision of two very different political cultures. One was built on the ego of the individual (Weiner), and the other on the absolute discipline of the institution (Abedin/Clinton).
Actionable Insights from the Saga
If there's anything to take away from this long, strange trip, it's these three things:
- Brand Recovery is Possible, But Hard: Abedin successfully decoupled her name from Weiner’s scandals through radical transparency in her memoir and professional consistency. Weiner’s 2025 loss proves that for some, the "brand" is too damaged to fix through traditional politics.
- Privacy is a Myth in the Digital Age: The "Carlos Danger" era taught us that nothing is ever truly deleted. If you're in the public eye, your private devices are a liability not just for you, but for everyone you know.
- Resilience Requires Moving On: Abedin’s marriage to Alex Soros in 2025 was a clear signal of her intent to start a new chapter. Sometimes, you can't just "fix" a situation; you have to outgrow it.
The drama of the 2010s is officially in the rearview mirror. Abedin is now part of one of the most powerful families in global philanthropy, and Weiner is a cautionary tale of what happens when you can't get out of your own way.
Next Steps for You:
If you're interested in the deeper psychological aspects of this story, you should read Huma Abedin’s memoir Both/And. It’s a rare look at what it’s like to be at the center of a global firestorm while trying to maintain your dignity. You can also look up the 2016 documentary Weiner, which captures the exact moment his mayoral campaign collapsed in real-time. It’s uncomfortable to watch, but it’s the best piece of political filmmaking from that decade.