Updated: September 12, 2013, 2:13 PM
Anthony Weiner’s political career may be over, but his wife, Huma Abedin, has returned to her position as director of Hillary Clinton’s transition office.
Back in July at the height of Weiner’s unsuccessful mayoral bid, Abedin took an extended vacation from her job as the director of former First Lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s transition office. Abedin spent the time off fundraising for and campaigning with Weiner. Now that the race is over, Clinton spokesman Phillippe Reines, confirmed to TPM Thursday that she has returned to her position with Clinton.
Reines began his email to TPM by rejecting the notion of questioning whether Abedin was back at work in Clinton’s transition office.
“I’m assuming TPM has a vacation policy that allows you to take time off and not have to re-apply for your position when it ends. So your question doesn’t make any sense in that you don’t have to return to something you didn’t leave. Huma is Transition Director as much today as was a before (sic) she took some well-deserved time off,” Reines wrote. “So I can state definitely and can confirm that your premise makes absolutely no sense to anyone who has ever taken a vacation.”
Abedin’s dual roles aiding her husband campaign and working as an aide to Clinton were the subject of intense scrutiny and rumors during the mayoral primary. There were multiple reports the Clintons were upset with Weiner after his second sexting scandal and worried his marriage to Abedin, a longtime aide and confidante to the former First Lady, could have a negative impact on Hillary Clinton’s potential 2016 White House bid.
The situation prompted questions about whether Abedin would be welcomed back into Hillary Clinton’s orbit when her husband’s mayoral race was over. During an interview in August, Weiner claimed to know Abedin would have a role on a Clinton presidential campaign, but he conceded he had “hurt” his wife both “personally” and “professionally.”
Weiner’s campaign initially said Abedin would be with him when he went to vote on election day Tuesday. Abedin was absent, which Weiner explained by saying she was “on a call.” Abedin also did not attend the Tuesday night party where he made a concession speech that did not thank her. According to the New York Post, Abedin spent election night Tuesday at a fundraiser for Clinton in Washington.
Weiner did not immediately respond to a request for comment on this story.
Correction: An earlier version of this story in one reference incorrectly described Abedin as having a position in Clinton’s campaign office. Abedin works in Clinton’s transition office.
