Yes, Sydney Leathers is her real name. And despite the phone sex and the offers from porn producers, the Indiana woman at the center of the latest Anthony Weiner scandal says she was looking for love — not fame — when she first got involved with the disgraced New York politician.
“I didn’t want to be known for this,” the 23-year-old told us Saturday. “I was a huge fan and admired him a lot.”
Instead of rock stars or actors, Leathers is into politicians, and she recalls first spotting Weiner on cable television. “He’d give these hyperbolic speeches on the House floor,” she said. “I was so impressed by them. He was so passionate, and it made me feel we cared about the same things.” When Weiner resigned in 2011, she sent him a Facebook message to express her disappointment in his behavior.
And that was that — until he wrote back in the summer of 2012 to apologize for letting her down. The two quickly began an “emotional” affair — she liked his intellect, his charm, their banter and chemistry. “He had me wrapped around his finger because he knew I had him on a pedestal,” she said. “Honestly, I was flattered to get attention from him.”
At first, they wrote or talked every day — soon with risque texts, explicit photos and phone sex. “I’ve never met anyone with an ego like that. It was all about him.” The relationship was their hot, guilty secret, though the two never met in person, but it was over by the end of last year.
Then, in April, Weiner ca.