New York mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner said Tuesday that he continued to engage in explicit online messaging after his resignation from Congress.

There wasn’t supposed to be any downside for Anthony Weiner in running for mayor of New York.

He found it.

In an extraordinary news conference Tuesday beside his wife, Huma Abedin, Weiner confirmed an account on the gossip site the Dirty, which reported a series of explicit conversations and lewd photos that the former congressman exchanged with a young woman, all apparently under the nom de plume Carlos Danger. Weiner, who resigned from office when his habit of tweeting dirty selfies became public two years ago, has repeatedly stated that other such digital indiscretions could surface, a point he made again Tuesday evening. But as his wife looked on, he also confirmed that some of those erotic messages were sent after his resignation from Congress, and well into his redemption tour, including after a July 2012 People magazine article in which Abedin said that Weiner had spent “every day” since the scandal working to be the “best dad and husband” possible.

Weiner, wearing a pen in the pocket of his blue shirt, said Tuesday he hoped the city’s voters would still “give me a second chance.” But this time, the acclaimed political showman served as the opening act. Abedin, who followed his comments, smiled broadly, nodded supportively and spoke confidently.

Abe.