Porn publisher offers Weiner job

Flynt offers Anthony Weiner a 20% raiseOffer "not made in jest," Flynt writesThe job offer comes within hours of the congressman's resignation

(CNN) -- Larry Flynt, porn publisher and erstwhile snoop into the sex lives of politicians, has offered a job to disgraced former U.S. Congressman Anthony Weiner.

Flynt, founder of Hustler Magazine, made the job offer in a letter that was published in The Huffington Post on Thursday.

"This offer is not made in jest," wrote Flynt.

"Just as we do not undertake insincere political crusades, we do not make insincere job offers."

Weiner could not be immediately reached for comment.

Where does Weiner go from here?

Flynt's job offer came within hours of the congressman's resignation on Thursday over a sexting scandal.

In the letter, Flynt offered to give Weiner a 20% raise above the salary he earned in the U.S. House of Representatives, ensuring the former congressman's medical benefits would match what he had received in office.

Flynt also offered to pay Weiner's moving expenses to Beverly Hills, California.

"While this employment opportunity is being offered in large part due to your qualifications and clear passion for making a change," Flynt wrote, "I feel that your unfortunate resignation is a prime example of unfounded political pressure and the hypocrisy that has invaded democracy in Washington, D.C."

The job offer was the second made by Flynt to a politician within the past year.

Recent political sex scandals

In October, he offered to hire Republican Carl Paladino after the socially conservative gubernatorial candidate garnered headlines over pornographic images circulated to friends and colleagues.

The tone of Flynt's purported job offer to Paladino was markedly different than Weiner's.

"It's clear that 'values purporting' Carl Paladino has a keen instinct for kinky sex," Flynt said in a news release at the time. "He is a natural pornographer who has a skilled eye for unusual views and acrobatics ... It's clear he's better suited to join our team than be the governor of the state of New York."

Paladino lost the election to Democrat Andrew Cuomo.

In 1998, during the impeachment proceedings against President Bill Clinton over the Monica Lewinsky affair, Flynt offered $1 million to anyone with evidence of sexual misconduct against Republican lawmakers leading the effort against Clinton.

He published some of the evidence he obtained.

CNN

Weiner resigns after sexting scandal

Washington (CNN) -- Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner heeded calls from across the political spectrum by resigning from office Thursday, saying the sexting scandal he first lied about and then admitted caused such a distraction that it was impossible for him to continue his work in Congress.

In a brief statement to reporters interrupted repeatedly by a heckler, the New York congressman apologized "for the personal mistakes I have made and for the embarrassment I have caused" to his neighbors, to his constituents and "particularly to my wife."

"Unfortunately, the distraction that I have created" made it "impossible" to continue working in Congress, Weiner said.

Key dates in Weiner scandal

He was greeted by some cheers when he entered the room at a community center in his home district to make the announcement. One onlooker, however, heckled Weiner by shouting "pervert" and later yelled insulting questions as Weiner spoke. The heckler turned out to be a writer for shock jock Howard Stern who goes by the name Benjy Bronk, and he offered little explanation for why he taunted the congressman.

Weiner, 46, was considered a possible front-runner to succeed New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2013 until the revelation in late May of his online communications, including lewd photos of himself he sent to women he befriended on Facebook and Twitter.

After initially claiming that the first picture to be made public resulted from his account being hacked, Weiner eventually admitted that he sent the picture and had engaged in several inappropriate online relationships with women he contacted through social networking sites.

House colleagues wished Weiner well Thursday while acknowledging his failures.

"Congressman Weiner exercised poor judgment in his actions and poor judgment in his reaction to the revelations," said a statement by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, who had pushed Weiner to step down. "Today, he made the right judgment in resigning."

See photos at TMZ

Weiner's political mentor, Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, called it a sad day, adding that Weiner "was an effective and passionate advocate for the people he represented in Brooklyn and Queens" who "served his community, city, and country well for over two decades."

Others noted that the scandal surrounding Weiner had become a distraction.

Democratic Rep. Steve Israel, D-New York, issued a statement saying that Weiner's decision to resign "is right for him and his family, our party, and our country because we have serious work to do in Congress."

Is Weiner doing the right thing?

"Last week Republican leaders introduced a bill to privatize Social Security, and the American people deserve an undistracted debate on it, Medicare, jobs, and other important issues," Israel's statement said, reflecting the desire of Democrats to refocus the national debate after more than two weeks.

Republican Rep. Peter King, who once engaged in a shouting match with Weiner on the House floor, said Weiner had to resign because he would have been rendered ineffective in Congress.

King called Weiner "talented" and said, "I always felt he was so ambitious, so driven to succeed, that apart from morality or anything else, that he would never leave himself so exposed, as he's done, so literally."

Party bosses battle over Weiner scandal

To fill Weiner's seat, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will call a special election on a date to be determined. A brief statement from Cuomo's office said Thursday that the governor " will take the appropriate steps to ensure New Yorkers in the 9th district are fairly represented in Congress."

Dave Arnold, Weiner's communications director, said the congressman's staff would remain employed until the day of the special election.

A similar special election took place in New York last month after the resignation in February of Republican Rep. Chris Lee over a Craigslist solicitation that included his shirtless photo.

Top leaders from both parties, including President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, had said or suggested that Weiner should step down over the controversy, which has been a major story since the news emerged in late May.

Weiner to seek treatment amid growing pressure to resign

Weiner announced that he was seeking treatment and requested a two-week leave from Congress that was granted without objection. However, Weiner resisted the calls to resign, bolstered by polling that showed a majority of residents in his district wanted him to stay on.

With more revelations of the sexually tinged online communications emerging and the story continuing to dominate headlines, Weiner changed his mind this week after his wife, Huma Abedin, returned from an overseas trip with Clinton.

Weiner's wife returns as pressure mounts for his resignation

Weiner called Israel on Wednesday to tell him he was going to resign, said a source familiar with that conversation. Israel, who was at a White House picnic for members of Congress, then got Weiner on the phone with Pelosi, the source said.

Israel and Pelosi went near a tree on the White House grounds to talk to Weiner in private, according to the source. Weiner told them that he was resigning and was very remorseful about what he did to his family and his colleagues, especially for causing such a distraction, the source added.

Weiner also told Israel and Pelosi that he had talked to his wife, who is pregnant with the couple's first child.

Weiner decision revealed at White House picnic

Pelosi said earlier Thursday that Democratic leaders "respectfully gave him time and his wife came home for them to talk."

Back in Weiner's home district, supporters praised the congressman for working on their behalf but criticized his behavior, while opponents said good riddance.

"We really appreciate what he's done for us," said Ruth Rootenberg, a 30-year resident. "What he did on a personal level isn't something we approve of."

As for Weiner's future, Rootenberg said, he "had a very good chance at being mayor, but at this point I'm not so sure."

"His constituents are behind him," she said, adding: "There's always a chance."

Weiner might have been next New York mayor

However, Ruben Noyman said that he never voted for Weiner and that the congressman's resignation is the "smart thing to do."

"He's a disgrace," Noyman said.

Democratic Rep. Ed Towns of New York said he hoped Weiner could "bounce back and run for something else, and knowing him, he probably will," while Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-New Jersey, said Weiner probably could have survived the scandal if he had come clean right away instead of lying about it.

From all indications, the story wasn't going away. On Wednesday, a former adult film actress currently working as a stripper said she exchanged e-mails and Twitter messages with Weiner for more than two months. The woman, whose lawyer identified her as Ginger Lee, said in New York that Weiner asked her to lie about it after the scandal broke.

Wired: How early Twitter decisions led to Weiner's downfall

Lee said that although she initially admired Weiner for his liberal views on Planned Parenthood and health care, her view of the congressman has changed.

"I think that Anthony Weiner should resign because he lied to the public and the press for more than a week," Lee said. "If he lied about this, I can't have much faith in him about anything else."

Her lawyer, Gloria Allred, read some of the scores of e-mails that she said Weiner sent to Lee.

"I have wardrobe demands too," said one, according to Allred. "I need to highlight my package."

Lee said she never reciprocated when Weiner made suggestive comments. Allred said Lee, who is single, never met Weiner and never received any photographs from him.

Where does Weiner go from here?

First elected to the House in 1998 after Schumer decided to run for the Senate, Weiner has been a reliable liberal voice for the solidly Democratic 9th District, encompassing parts of Brooklyn and Queens.

Weiner basically ran unopposed in 2006 and 2008 and won by 22 points over his Republican opponent in 2010, easily avoiding the GOP tidal wave that swept over the House.

As a politician, Weiner fully embraced social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook, using the platforms to unleash his comedic take on life and politics.

He graduated from the State University of New York Plattsburgh and worked as an aide to Schumer from 1985 to 1991. A year later, he served on the New York City Council.

He ran unsuccessfully in the Democratic mayoral primary race in 2005. Most observers now feel the scandal has ruined any chance of his being elected mayor in 2013.

CNN's Tom Cohen, Meghan Rafferty and Raelyn Johnson contributed to this report.

CNN

Party bosses battle over Weiner scandal

TMZ reports this photo of Rep. Anthony Weiner was taken in the House members' gym.NEW: Anthony Weiner's office declines to comment on the photos published by TMZ TMZ publishes pictures Weiner apparently took of himself in the House gym Republican Party chief accuses Pelosi of having wanted to save Weiner's jobWasserman Schultz accuses Republican leader of a "double standard"

(CNN) -- The heads of both major political parties battled Sunday over the handling of Rep. Anthony Weiner's scandal, with the Republican Party boss accusing Democrats of inaction and the Democratic Party leader accusing Republicans of a "double standard."

In a heated debate on NBC's "Meet the Press," Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said that "for the first 10 days" of the scandal, "the only job (House Minority Leader) Nancy Pelosi was interested in saving was Anthony Weiner's." Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz fired back that Priebus' argument failed "the straight-face test."

The debate came the same day that TMZ published photos of Weiner, in various states of undress, which he apparently took of himself in a locker room. TMZ reported that they were taken in the House members' gym and sent to at least one woman. Weiner's office declined to comment on the photos, and CNN could not confirm the details reported by TMZ.

See photos at TMZ.com

After apologizing last week, Weiner said he had exchanged "messages and photos of explicit nature with about six women in the last three years," communicating with them online and, occasionally, on the phone.

Wasserman Schultz issued a statement Saturday calling for Weiner's resignation. Pelosi also called for him to step down Saturday.

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer said Sunday that Weiner should consider resigning. "I think that certainly he has to consider that option," Hoyer said on CBS' "Face the Nation." "I don't see how he can proceed and effectively represent his constituency."

In the interview on "Meet the Press," Wasserman Schultz was asked why she called for Weiner's resignation at this point in the so-called "sexting" scandal. She said Democrats had been giving Weiner "some breathing room to be able to be circumspect, do the right thing, make a decision, reach the conclusion that he needed to step back, and step down on his own." When he had not done so by Saturday, "it was important to weigh in," she said.

Priebus said "it's a question of leadership." Weiner "turned this town and this country into a three-ring circus," Priebus said.

"We've got leadership and a Democratic Party that are defending a guy that deserves no defense."

Wasserman Schultz said Priebus' argument "doesn't pass the straight-face test from a chair of a party none of whose leaders called for Senator Vitter, who actually broke the law, to resign, who is still serving (in) office." Sen. David Vitter, R-Louisiana, admitted in 2007 to "a very serious sin" after he was linked to a prostitution scandal.

Wasserman Schultz also cited former Sen. John Ensign, R-Nevada, who had an extramarital affair with a staffer's wife and later resigned. "You never called for his resignation, so it's a double standard and it's unacceptable," she said.

When asked about those situations, Priebus responded he was "not defending these guys," and turned the discussion to the economy and President Barack Obama's policies.

Wasserman Schultz said she spoke briefly with Weiner. She described him as "incredibly apologetic" and "devastated" about the conduct he has been engaged in.

Weiner's spokeswoman said Saturday that the congressman is seeking treatment "to focus on becoming a better husband and healthier person." He will take a "short leave of absence," Risa Heller said in a statement.

Wasserman Schultz said a leave of absence is not enough. A party cannot force a lawmaker to leave, however. "A member of Congress makes his own decision, and that's certainly going to be up to Anthony Weiner, but we have made it clear that he needs to resign," she said.

Speaking to the media on Saturday, Weiner said he has "made some serious mistakes and I'm trying to redeem myself," adding that his "remarkable" wife -- Huma Abedin, a senior aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton -- is doing well.

A Democratic source familiar with conversations among Weiner and Democratic leadership said the congressman does not want to make a decision on his future in Congress until Abedin returns from a trip with Clinton in Africa. She is scheduled to return Thursday.

Meanwhile, authorities in Delaware have closed an investigation into contact between Weiner and a teenager in the state.

C.R. McLeod, spokesman for the New Castle County government, told CNN on Sunday that the police concluded their investigation Friday "and at this point they won't have anything else to pursue unless further evidence comes to their attention."

In a statement Friday, New Castle County Police said detectives had "conducted an interview with the teen and she has made no disclosure of criminal activity nor inappropriate contact by the congressman."

Weiner told reporters the contact involved "nothing explicit, nothing indecent. Absolutely nothing inappropriate."

An attorney representing the teen's family said in a statement Sunday that the 17-year-old had Twitter contact with Weiner, and that the tweets "were not salacious or in any manner inappropriate." No photographs were ever sent to her, the statement said.

CNN

Delaware police investigate alleged contact between Weiner, teen

Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-New York, admitted this week to sending inappropriate tweets to women during his marriage.Police: The teen was interviewed and did not disclose any inappropriate contactSpokeswoman: According to Weiner, the contact was not indecent

(CNN) -- Delaware authorities are investigating alleged contact between a local teen and Rep. Anthony Weiner, who has been under fire after admitting to inappropriate communications with women online.

"Detectives were made aware of alleged contact between Congressman Anthony Weiner and an area teen," New Castle County police said in a statement.

"Detectives have conducted an interview with the teen and she has made no disclosure of criminal activity nor inappropriate contact by the Congressman."

Weiner spokeswoman Risa Heller, in response to a question about the Delaware teen, said in a statement, "According to Congressman Weiner, his communications with this person were neither explicit nor indecent."

The married Democratic representative from New York admitted this week that he engaged in sexually tinged communications with multiple women and lied about it.

CNN's Dana Bash and Holly Yan contributed to this report.

CNN

Delaware teen questioned about Weiner

Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-New York, admitted this week to sending inappropriate tweets to women during his marriage.Police: The teen was interviewed and did not disclose any inappropriate contactSpokeswoman: According to Weiner, the contact was not indecent

(CNN) -- Delaware authorities are investigating alleged contact between a local teen and Rep. Anthony Weiner, who has been under fire after admitting to inappropriate communications with women online.

"Detectives were made aware of alleged contact between Congressman Anthony Weiner and an area teen," New Castle County police said in a statement.

"Detectives have conducted an interview with the teen and she has made no disclosure of criminal activity nor inappropriate contact by the Congressman."

Weiner spokeswoman Risa Heller, in response to a question about the Delaware teen, said in a statement, "According to Congressman Weiner, his communications with this person were neither explicit nor indecent."

The married Democratic representative from New York admitted this week that he engaged in sexually tinged communications with multiple women and lied about it.

CNN's Dana Bash and Holly Yan contributed to this report.

CNN

Pressure grows for Weiner to resign

Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-New York, was first elected to Congress in 1998 and has won seven straight elections.NEW: A Democratic source says colleagues are pressuring Weiner to resignNEW: An explicit photo claimed to be of Weiner is posted onlineSources say Weiner's district will likely be eliminated in the redistricting process

Washington (CNN) -- Fellow Democrats mounted increasing pressure Wednesday for Rep. Anthony Weiner to resign, a day after party leaders turned their backs on the liberal congressman embroiled in a "sexting" scandal.

Sen. Mark Pryor of Arkansas and Reps. Allyson Schwartz of Pennsylvania, Michael Michaud of Maine, Mike Ross of Arkansas and Niki Tsongas of Massachusetts joined a growing chorus of Democratic voices that have called for Weiner, D-New York, to step down over sexually tinged online communications with several women that he then lied about.

A Democratic legislator familiar with discussions with and about Weiner told CNN that Weiner's colleagues are telling him he should resign "to preserve his own dignity."

Dems privately urge Weiner to resign

The congressman, who spoke on condition of not being identified by name in order to discuss private conversations, said the public call by Schwartz was part of a stepped-up effort to force Weiner out. According to the source, the effort includes private and public calls explicitly telling him it's time to leave Congress.

"There is increased resentment by his colleagues that far from having a press conference where he was going to tell the truth and roll with the flames, the flames are just getting worse and he's dragging us through it," the source said. "We really thought by now, after the press conference, we would be able to talk about the Republicans' Social Security privatization bill and instead we keep talking about Anthony Weiner. And people are getting angrier and more resentful."

Explicit photo is latest twist in Weiner scandal

A new explicit photograph now published on the Internet, allegedly of Weiner's naked genitals, is the latest example of how the issue was not going away, the Democratic legislator said, adding it was unclear if Weiner would listen.

"I think he is truly conflicted and the people around him are truly conflicted," the source said. "Nobody knows what is going to work."

More public calls for Weiner's resignation are expected, the source added.

Also Wednesday, multiple New York Democratic sources told CNN it is highly likely Weiner's district will be eliminated as part of next year's redistricting process.

Weiner, who is married, admitted earlier this week that he engaged in sexually tinged communications with multiple women and lied about it.

The New York Times reported Wednesday that Weiner and his wife, Huma Abedin, are expecting their first child. Philippe Reines, a colleague and friend of Abedin, responded "no comment" when asked about the pregnancy report.

Weiner's admission Monday launched calls from Republicans and then an increasing number of Democrats for him to step aside.

"It would be fine with me," Pryor said Wednesday. "I think at this point it would probably be a good thing if he would go ahead and resign."

What do you think about Weiner's confession?

Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine said Tuesday that Weiner's attempted cover-up of the scandal makes him unfit for office.

"Lying is unforgivable," said Kaine, now a U.S. Senate candidate in Virginia. "Lying publicly about something like this is unforgivable and he should resign."

While other Democrats haven't explicitly called on Weiner to step down, they have done little to demonstrate any support for him.

"Representative Weiner has some problems," Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the Senate's No. 2 Democrat, told reporters Wednesday.

What was Weiner thinking?

"I wish there was some way I could defend him, but I can't," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, said Tuesday. Asked what he would say if Weiner sought advice, Reid smiled and responded: "I'd tell him to call someone else."

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, who called for an ethics investigation Monday, released a letter Tuesday detailing her formal request for the inquiry.

Pelosi's letter "certainly adds pressure for him to go," said a senior Democratic aide, who spoke on condition of not being identified.

Weiner, who has said he would welcome an ethics probe, publicly apologized Monday for sending flirtatious messages and images on Facebook and Twitter to six women over the past three years and then denying it for a week.

Democrats offer Weiner advice

Over the past three days, he has been reaching out to a number of colleagues and supporters, according to one source. Among other things, Weiner called former President Bill Clinton -- who officiated at his wedding ceremony -- to personally express regret for his actions.

Wednesday's publication online of the explicit photo that a conservative blogger claims shows Weiner's genitals was the latest twist in the scandal. Andrew Breitbart, whose biggovernment.com website broke the story of Weiner's sexting, said the photo came from a woman who told him Weiner sent it to her.

Weiner acknowledged Monday that such an X-rated photo of him could exist.

Some fellow House Democrats have announced they were donating campaign contributions from Weiner to charity.

An ethics investigation would examine if Weiner violated House rules or brought the chamber into disrepute.

Sources: Weiner could lose his home base in redistricting deal

The code of conduct for members of Congress calls for them to conduct themselves "at all times in a manner that shall reflect creditably on the House." However, ethics experts say legislators are rarely, if ever, disciplined for violating that rule alone.

Using government technology such as telephones and computers for his sexting could be another story.

Weiner said Monday he used his personal BlackBerry and home computer, but added: "I don't have the knowledge of every last communication, but I don't believe that I used any government resources."

Even if he did, that doesn't automatically subject him to House discipline, said Stan Brand, a former House general counsel who has represented legislators before the ethics panel.

Members of Congress sometimes use official resources for nongovernment activities, Brand noted, adding that "the House has never taken a position or disciplined someone for that use."

Back in Weiner's district -- which straddles Brooklyn and Queens -- voters were divided over what the congressman should do. Some constituents said he should "never resign," while others called for his immediate ouster.

Weiner was first elected to Congress in 1998 and has won seven straight elections.

Whether or not Weiner retains the support of most of his constituents, many analysts believe he has almost certainly lost his spot as a front-runner in New York's 2013 mayoral election.

In addition, multiple New York Democratic sources told CNN on Wednesday they believe it is highly likely Weiner will ultimately lose his congressional district as part of a redistricting deal. New York will lose two of its 29 U.S. House seats by 2012 due to recent U.S. Census results.

Before news broke of the Weiner scandal, most New York state government observers believed one Republican seat upstate would be lost along with one Democratic seat downstate. The fact that Weiner is now tarnished makes it extremely likely his seat will be the one that Democrats sacrifice, the sources said.

Two of the sources -- both Democratic strategists in New York -- said the impending redistricting is one reason New York Democrats aren't rushing to call on Weiner to resign. Many believe it is better for them if he stays because it makes it more likely that his district will be eliminated instead of theirs, the sources noted.

CNN's Alan Silverleib, Tom Cohen, Peter Hamby, Dana Bash, Deirdre Walsh, Mary Snow, Meghan Rafferty, Josh Levs and Kate Bolduan contributed to this story.

CNN

Police could figure out Weiner guilt or innocence (AP)

By PETER SVENSSON, AP Technology Writer Peter Svensson, Ap Technology Writer – Fri Jun 3, 12:01 am ET

NEW YORK – There's one way Rep. Anthony Weiner could show that he didn't send a salacious photo to a female college student from his Twitter account: Ask law enforcement to investigate.

The New York congressman has so far declined to ask for an investigation into the photo, saying it's not a worthy use of government resources. The U.S. Capitol Police said it would not launch an investigation unless requested.

In asking a private security firm to investigate instead, Weiner won't be able to prove his innocence by obtaining logs from Twitter showing where his account was accessed from. Twitter says it requires a subpoena or court order to hand over such information. A subpoena or court order would have to be initiated by police or the FBI, not private detectives.

The scandal, which erupted last weekend, has been fueled by Weiner's initial refusal to answer questions about it. Although he started explaining his side Wednesday in a series of media interviews, some of his answers were perplexing.

Weiner was clear about one thing: He says he didn't send the picture, which was addressed to one of his Twitter followers, identified by news outlets as Genette Cordova.

If he didn't send it, that points to someone else using his account at Twitter or at yFrog, the photo-sharing site that stored the picture, according to conservative website BigGovernment.com, which first reported on the tweet.

Sites such as Twitter usually keep logs of which Internet addresses are used to access an account, sort of like an online guestbook. It doesn't contain names, but these numerical Internet Protocol, or IP, addresses identify computers and phones.

Weiner was tweeting on Friday night, when the picture was posted. If the log book shows that the post with the picture came from a different address than the one associated with his legitimate, hockey-related tweets, that would strongly suggest Weiner's innocence.

"Oftentimes, if there's a situation where an account has been taken over, we can tell that the IP address has changed — it's not the one we'd expect to find," said Lt. Charles Cohen, head of the cybercrime investigations at the Indiana State Police.

One obstacle is that websites don't have to keep logs of Internet addresses, and those that do keep them for differing amounts of time. Twitter and yFrog didn't respond Thursday to questions about how long they keep Internet address information.

The editorial board of the Daily News of New York said it believes Weiner when he denies sending the photograph, but it said his refusal to let law enforcement investigate is suspicious.

If Weiner did send the message, the use of yFrog could explain why it was visible to others, instead of just Cordova. Twitter allows users to send a "direct message" that is visible only to the recipient, much like an email. Yfrog doesn't offer that option. In a setup that could be confusing, it prompts users to send pictures to other Twitter users, but the resulting tweets aren't private.

Weiner has been equivocal about whether the photo is of him, leaving open the possibility that he shot the picture and uploaded it to his yFrog, where a hacker found it and tweeted it.

An examination of Weiner's computer or phone would probably show whether he shot the picture. It's also possible that yFrog has a copy of the picture, even though Weiner said he deleted it Friday night. The photo file could contain data that identifies the camera. Again, if it doesn't match Weiner's camera, he would be in the clear.

If the investigation does point to a hacker, identifying the culprit could be challenging, depending on how well he or she covered her tracks. Logs from Twitter or yFrog could yield an Internet address, but computers and phones switch Internet addresses regularly. Someone accessing the account from a public hot spot or a prepaid cellphone would be virtually untraceable, Cohen said.

Cohen has investigated cases of public officials who have had their Facebook accounts hacked by people who apparently got hold of their passwords. That can happen if someone uses a public computer and forgets to log out afterward, he said.

It's also possible a hacker could simply have guessed Weiner's password, either to Twitter or yFrog.

Hackers can also gain access to Twitter and Facebook accounts through the wireless signals of people who log in while on a public, unencrypted hot spot, Cohen said.

This became drastically easier last fall, when a programmer released a software add-on for the popular Firefox browser that provides automatic access to Facebook and Twitter accounts of nearby people. The software requires little technical know-how. The add-on doesn't expose passwords, but allows hackers to do whatever a user can do, such as post status updates, pictures and tweets.

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