By Anna Gustafson
U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Forest Hills) is one step closer to giving up his bachelorhood.
The Weiner camp told the New York Post Sunday he proposed to his longtime girlfriend and a top aide to U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton, Huma Abedin, just days before penning a New York Times piece in May about his exit from the mayoral race.
Weiner, in the May 27 piece, cited his desire to remain in Washington, trepidations about running against billionaire Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the possibility of starting a family as reasons for dropping out.
Weiner, 44, wrote he believes he has a “contribution to make in Congress fighting for New Yorkers.” He then added in parentheses he would “also like to build a family.”
Weiner pulled out a traditional stop for his proposal and got down on one knee May 23 to ask Abedin, 33, to marry him, according to the Post.
“It wasn’t about the time,” Weiner said when asked by a TimesLedger reporter what prompted him to propose. “It was about falling in love with a beautiful woman.”
Weiner, who is Jewish, and Abedin, who is Muslim, have not set a wedding date.
Abedin was born in Michigan and grew up in Saudi Arabia. Her late father was a Muslim from India, and her mother, born in Pakistan, is a professor in Saudi Arabia. Abedin has worked for Clinton since 1996.
Weiner grew up in Brooklyn, where his parents still live. Weiner ran for mayor in 2005 and has not ruled out making another bid for the city’s highest office in another four years.
Staff reporter Jeremy Walsh contributed to this article.
Reach reporter Anna Gustafson by e-mail at agustafson@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 174.
