Weiner chat partner Sydney Leathers felt 'manipulated'
Updated at 5:32 p.m. ET on 7/25
(CNN) – The woman who exchanged the sexually explicit messages that have thrown Anthony Weiner's New York City mayoral campaign into damage control mode said Thursday the former congressman deceived her when he contacted her online.
"I felt manipulated," Sydney Leathers told the television program "Inside Edition." "Obviously I felt like he's saying one thing to me, another thing to his wife, saying another thing on the campaign trail. I don't know who the real Anthony Weiner is I guess."
Later, Leathers claimed Weiner became "controlling" toward the end of their online relationship.
"He would tell me that he would be jealous," Leathers said. "He would look at my Facebook frequently. He would tell me that he would get jealous if other men would compliment me. Just little stuff like that."
Weiner's campaign declined to comment on the interview with Leathers.
READ MORE: Weiner's poll numbers tumble
The messages between Weiner and Leathers – some of which included lewd photographs of Weiner - came to light Tuesday on the gossip website TheDirty. The site claimed Weiner vowed to purchase a condominium for Leathers in Chicago, as well as secure her a place on a panel for political bloggers.
A friend of Leathers told CNN on Wednesday the 23-year-old Indiana native was a strong supporter of the New York politician even after he resigned from Congress amid similar circumstances two years ago.
READ MORE: Pelosi blasts Weiner: Do your therapy in private
Leathers actively posts about politics and her Democratic views on Facebook, and had previously included Weiner in a list of political heroes.
She said in the "Inside Edition" interview she was blown away that the former congressman would revert to the behavior that led to his resignation from Congress in 2011.
"I was shocked because I didn't think he would be so foolish as to do the same thing all over again," she said. "He was making these campaign promises that he had totally changed, and he was a better man now, and he learned from his mistakes, and I have proof that that was not true."
Leathers "cared" about Weiner, she said, and knew that he wanted her to erase any evidence of their "very sexual" conversations.
But now, as their conversations have come to light, Leathers no longer sees Weiner in quite the same way.
Asked by "Inside Edition" correspondent Jim Moret whether Weiner was trying to "pull one over" on voters, Leathers replied, "Absolutely."
"Otherwise he wouldn't have went on the whole 'I'm a changed man, I've learned my lesson, I wouldn't have said those things' if he wasn't trying to be someone he wasn't," she said.
Her verdict of Weiner now? She recalled a description the politician used about himself in one of their conversations.
"The exact wording was that he was an argumentative, perpetually horny middle aged man," she said. "And at the time, I was like, 'Oh no, you're not.' But yes, he is."
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I dont buy her innocent act for one second.
STAY AWAY from married men ladies (and politicians)
yes Leathers.. this married and fired congressman manipulated you... shocking. really shocking.
She was out for her moment of fame, and it looks like she got it. End of story!
Poor little victim....this guy is sick, but he couldn't do it alone,,,
Please – these are two adults who were communicating. They each decided to do this so it is too late to play dumb. Don't say that you were deceived. How many times do people have to be told that those they communicate with on the internet may not be telling you the truth? This is just another case of the press getting hold of something and running with the information. Mr. Weiner should ha e known better and even more so once he was married and had a child. No apology will do. The woman should have known better as well.
Is she a Rhodes' scholar?
Remember NYC, he won't suddenly "get better" once you vote him into office. He will continue this behavior. It's who he is.
This man is very obviously a Sociopath. Don't blame the women he's been cheating with or hold it against his wife for putting up with it. Sociopaths are master liars and deceivers! Research what a Sociopath is. You'll be surprised and horrified.
What a bunch of BS. Manipulated, my butt. She was a very willing participant, looking for one thing: M.O.N.E.Y.
This lady is a moron. She is an adult. She has no right to play the victim card.
She is looking for her "15 minutes of fame"; which is about 14 minutes MORE than WEINER deserves now. How can people still support this loser !!!
Ha!! what a laugh.. so she did not know what she was doing and with who she was doing, while she was doing? Did she just realize (after a year) that what he was doing could be hurtful to his wife? Did she not know he was married while she was doing it? Now that she is making her grab at her 15 mins of fame, she wants to play the victim card?
What an utterly dumb attention seeker she is... People like her disgust me.
She's trash and not worth her 15 minutes.
What a joke.
U are shocked that person u talk nasty to online isn't your dream catch ????
U were a fan until it was convenient for u not to be.
@Dominican,
"I couldn't care less about politics back then"
Cool. I was just curious. I will say that your statement is a clear indidcation that we have too much govt and too much politics today. I can answer the question for you. They were no different than repubs today. The job of the party out of power is to try to get back into power. That is why it's foolhardy to be as partisan as Sniffit, Rudy, Dutch and rs. None of the politicians care about us anymore (not sure if they ever did). All they care about today is money and power which means their job is to pit you against me.
Please lets move on. America and Americans are looking sooo stupid.
Yup clearly this chick is really going to live it up during her 15 minutes.
Quite a step down for Anthony Weiner, his wife is smoking hot.
This story is really poorly written. 5th grade journalism class? She contacted him first. She sent him nude photos. She knew exactly what she was doing. Now she is getting paid by Inside Edition and others to play the victim. Where are the quotes from other reports about her wanting to make "thousands and thousands of dollars off this."? The more we see her, the more support Weiner is going to get.
Crazy idiots.
Tattoos are in, she needs one that says stupid on her forehead as a warning for others.
Weiner needs to find the biggest rock available an hide under it FOREVER!!!!!!!
Text and tell, that's a no-no.
OMG: The hardship and degradation this poor woman must be suffering.. Is there no end to the horror this woman must endure? II pray for her redemption, There must be a book in the works.....huh!