Anthony Weiner Lost New York City Council Race to a Guy Named Harvey Epstein

Former Democratic representative and registered sex offender Anthony Weiner, who served 18 months in prison for sending obscene material to a minor, lost the Democratic primary race for NYC's 2nd City Council district to NY State Assemblyman Harvey Epstein.

Epstein, who served as a member of the New York State Assembly from the 74th district, claimed victory last night against his opponents: Allie Ryan, Sarah Batchu, Andrea Gordillo, and Anthony Weiner. As reported by AMNY, Epstein revealed during a campaign event at Mary O's bar on Avenue A that he was close to 40 percent of the vote in the primaries, with at least 85 percent of the total votes counted. That makes him the de facto winner, sitting comfortably ahead of the other candidates.

It could take another week before the votes are certified, but with 39 percent of the vote, it remains unlikely that anyone, especially Weiner with only 10 percent of the vote, could topple Epstein from his lead. "It’s a privilege to have served our neighborhood in the Assembly and to be the next council member for District Two," he told supporters.

Of course, there's a big elephant in the room regarding Epstein, who has a somewhat unfortunate portmanteau of a name. He shares a first name with former movie producer Harvey Weinstein, the co-founder of Miramax and The Weinstein Company who was convicted on three counts of rape, and NYC financier and child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, whose death in his jail cell in 2019 is the subject of main conspiracy theories.

So yes, a man with a first and last name of two infamous sex criminals beat someone who actually is a sex offender.

His name was the subject of a popular Saturday Night Live sketch last year starring John Mulaney, who pokes fun at the difficulty he could face in running for city council. "Hi, I'm Harvey Epstein, and I'm running for city council of New York City," Mulaney said in the sketch. "This is a real thing. Look, is my name ideal? Of course not. I share names with two of the most notorious sex perverts of all time. You think I don't know that? But thankfully, I'm a different guy!"

Throughout the sketch, he repeatedly stresses that he's "a different guy," pointing at photos of both Weinstein and Epstein to emphasise they did not "combine to form one person and make me." The pre-taped moment piece also ended with a slogan: "Harvey Epstein for City Council. Because together, we can make this city Epstein's Island." Mulaney's version of the assemblyman added, "Let's not call it that, maybe."

Shortly after the SNL episode premiered, Harvey Epstein responded by being a good sport about the bit. "I agree with John Mulaney... let's not call it Epstein's Island," he joked.

Anthony Weiner, meanwhile, appeared to be trying to make a comeback with his run for City Council. In 2011, he resigned from Congress after it was reported that he had sent sexually suggestive photos to multiple women and one minor. He pleaded guilty to transferring obscene material to a minor and was sentenced to 21 months in prison and had to register as a sex offender. He was released from federal prison in 2019.