US ex-congressman, wife to separate amid sexting scandal

NEW YORK (AA) - Huma Abedin, aide to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, announced Monday she is separating from her husband Anthony Weiner, a former congressman embroiled in a new sexting scandal.

"After long and painful consideration and work on my marriage, I have made the decision to separate from my husband," Abedin said in a statement. "Anthony and I remain devoted to doing what is best for our son, who is the light of our life. During this difficult time, I ask for respect for our privacy."

Abedin's announcement comes after Weiner closed down his Twitter account Monday, following a New York Post report that said he sent lewd photos to -- or "sexted" -- a young woman multiple times during a 19-month period.

Sexting controversies have taken an immense toll on Weiner's political career.

He was forced to resign his New York City seat in Congress in 2011 after he used social media to send an explicit picture of himself to a 21-year-old woman in Washington state.

His bid to return to the political scene as a New York City mayoral candidate was derailed in 2013 after another scandal that involved sexting three women.

Abedin and Weiner have been married for six years and have a five-year-old son.