Anthony Weiner Child Porn Charges Considered By Prosecutors: Reports

Prosecutors are reportedly considering child pornography charges against former New York Congressman Anthony Weiner in connection to an investigation into his alleged sexting with a 15-year-old girl.

Weiner's attorneys are trying to avoid charges of production of child pornography, according to the Wall Street Journal. If convicted, the charge would carry a 15-year minimum sentence. He could plead guilty to lesser crimes if prosecutors agree to drop those charges, the Journal reported, citing unnamed sources.

The New York Post, also citing unnamed sources, confirmed the Journal's report and said prosecutors are also considering charges of receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography.

The U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan and the FBI are investigating Weiner, 52, after DailyMail.com published screenshots of lewd texts he allegedly sent to a 15-year-old girl.

Authorities seized Weiner's phones and laptop as part of the investigation, which started in September after the article was published.

On one computer, feds found emails Weiner's estranged wife, Huma Abedin, had exchanged with Hillary Clinton. FBI Director James Comey sent Congress a letter just days before the election saying he was looking into new emails in his probe of Clinton, the Democratic candidate for president.

The emails were largely duplicates of ones the bureau had already looked into, and the "new" investigation was closed just days later. But Clinton and some of her closest allies have said Comey's decision to inform Congress about them cost her the presidency and handed it to Donald Trump.

Weiner and Abedin separated in August, after the Post published a sext Weiner sent to a woman that included their young son in the picture.

"After long and painful consideration and work on my marriage, I have made the decision to separate from my husband," Abedin said in a statement at the time. "Anthony and I remain devoted to doing what is best for our son, who is the light of our life. During this difficult time, I ask for respect for our privacy."

This story will be updated.

Photo credit: Boss Tweed, Flickr, Used under Creative Commons