Weiner’s wife is expecting, reports say

Rep. Anthony Weiner and his wife reportedly are expecting their first child, an unexpected twist in the saga involving the New York congressman. The news, first reported by the New York Times this afternoon, follows reports that Weiner’s wife, Huma Abedin, remains committed to salvaging the couple’s marriage, even though she has been out of the public eye since he admitted to lewd communication with women. Several officials confirmed that Abedin was pregnant, according to the Associated Press. An official at the State Department, where Abedin serves as deputy chief of staff to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, had no comment. Abedin, a longtime aide to Hillary Clinton, is currently traveling with the secretary of state to the United Arab Emirates. It’s the first stop on a four-nation tour that will keep her out of the country through the end of the week. Weiner’s prospects for political survival dimmed precipitously today with the appearance on the Internet of an X-rated photo said to be of the congressman — and the first calls from fellow Democrats for him to step down. “In light of Anthony Weiner’s offensive behavior online, he should resign,” Pennsylvania Rep. Allyson Schwartz, a member of the party campaign committee’s leadership, said in a statement that was quickly followed by similar expressions from other Democrats. Abedin was notably absent when Weiner made the stunning admission about his private behavior at a news conference Monday. The congressman had said a week earlier that he hoped his marriage could survive the media frenzy. After coming clean, he said his wife told him she was very disappointed, but also “wanted us to … pull through this.” The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Abedin was in New York on Monday, although she didn’t attend the news conference. She has also sought Hillary Clinton’s counsel, as Weiner has of former President Bill Clinton. The New York Post quoted an unnamed close friend of Abedin who said she’s encouraging Weiner not to resign and still hopes his political career can survive the imbroglio.