Former President Bill Clinton declined to address the latest Anthony Weiner sexting scandal–at least directly–chalking it up to him and the former first lady having too many “personal friends” involved in the New York City mayoral race in general.”We are a hundred miles from that race and everyone understands that we are not going to be involved, as long as our personal friends and people who we feel obligations are involved,” Clinton said in an interview with CNN while visiting Rwanda. Along with his daughter, Chelsea, the former president is on a six-stop tour of Africa on behalf of their Clinton Foundation.Ties to the Clinton family in the New York City mayoral race run deep, the president argued, and not just to the Weiner and his wife.”Neither Hillary or I was ever involved in the political campaign, and they understood that from the beginning,” Clinton continued. “There are too many people running for mayor who have been my supporters, who supported her for senator, her for president.”Weiner’s wife, Huma Abedin, has been a longtime aide of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The former president even officiated at Weiner and Abedin’s 2010 nuptials. And New York City Public Advocate turned mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio once served as campaign manager for Hillary Clinton’s successful Senate run in 2000, which the former president pointed out in his CNN interview.”There are literally five people in that race, including one of the Republican candidates Mr. [John] Catsimatidis, who are personal friends of ours,” he added. “So, the feelings I have are all personal and since they are, I shouldn’t talk about them.”
Sarah Muller