Weiner’s tale of self-destruction rocks race for president

We now learn that the Federal Bureau of Investigation are looking into 650,000 emails discovered on Anthony Weiner’s laptop, a machine Huma Abedin has told friends she never used – as you wouldn’t, if your spouse had the habits Mr Weiner has.

Clinton and Abedin are intricately linked, professionally and personally-to an nearly freakish degree. Although there was a laptop computer linked to Clinton’s private email server that was shared by Abedin and Weiner, one must remember that the initial focus of this probe was Weiner and his activities, not Abedin or Clinton. Clinton-in an unbelievable instance of irony-is credited with introducing Abedin and Weiner.

When ex-President Bill Clinton’s paid speeches scheduled near his wife’s presidential campaign announcement threaten to become a problem, it’s Abedin who raises the issue with everybody involved, and offers to push for a rescheduling.

After all that, and a week away from the election they’ve both worked toward, their 20-year bond is facing the ultimate test. But the elegant senior adviser to Hillary Clinton has not always been able to steer clear of high-profile messes, such as her husband’s sexting and a new Clinton email row. And, as this observer sees it, this matter should have no bearing whatsoever in the outcome of the election on November 8, 2016 between Clinton and Donald Trump, who also has been accused of lewd behavior towards women, groping women and making sexist remarks about women. There has never been much question that if Mrs. Clinton returned to the White House as president, Ms. Abedin would come too. Clinton called it “unprecedented” and “deeply troubling”, and her campaign chairman, John Podesta, said there was “no indication this is even about Hillary”.

Reporters informed Clinton’s top aides traveling on the plane about the FBI’s updated investigation, news that was met with dumbfounded looks from Clinton’s staffers who quickly retreated to huddle in the front of the plane.

“I wonder, is she gonna keep Huma”, said Trump, pronouncing Abedin’s name as “Uma” while he speculated about the fate of her employment.

It was during that investigation that FBI agents stumbled upon about 650,000 emails on Weiner’s computer, some of which could be linked to Clinton’s private email server.

No longer is Trump pleading, “investigate the investigation”; instead he said he is now hopeful that “justice at least can be properly delivered”.

But Clinton’s team of close advisers has leapt to Ms Abedin’s defence.

Clinton stood by her when Weiner’s first online sex scandal cost him his seat in Congress, and when his second imploded his bid for NY mayor.

Before the news broke, Clinton’s top aides spoke to reporters in flight, touting the fact that their candidate planned to visit Arizona, a traditionally red state, and early voting that proved their base of women, minority and young voters were turning out in record numbers. If Hillary Clinton wins, the cycle of scandals, lies, investigations and cover-ups will continue unabated for the next four years.

Carl Bernstein, of Watergate fame and CNN political commentator put it this way during a weekend interview on CNN: “We don’t know what this means yet except that it’s a real bombshell”.

Today, some in the media may be turning a blind eye to Clinton’s scandals because they are terrified of the prospect of a Donald Trump presidency.