Huma Abedin

Since Huma Abedin appeared in Vogue in August 2007, the glamorous and hard-working deputy chief of staff to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has had to weather more than one major political storm. First, her husband of less than a year was caught sending inappropriate (on so many levels) photos to women via Twitter. He was forced to resign his seat in Congress because of the scandal. Then, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) and four other Republican House members suggested that Abedin, a Muslim, was a traitor who was using her position to influence Clinton on behalf of the Muslim Brotherhood. But, in a nod to her sterling personal reputation, politicians from both sides of the aisle were quick to defend the 37-year-old Abedin. John McCain (R-Arizona) headed to the floor of the Senate to say Bachmann’s allegations were an “unwarranted and unfounded attack on an honorable woman, a dedicated American, and a loyal public servant.”

Abedin told Time magazine that she ended up in politics because of the Clintons, and Hillary Clinton told Vogue that Abedin has “the energy of a woman in her 20s, the confidence of a woman in her 30s, the experience of a woman in her 40s, and the grace of a woman in her 50s. She is timeless, her combination of poise, kindness, and intelligence are matchless, and I am lucky to have had her on my team for a decade now.” And, while rumors fly about whether Weiner will run for mayor of New York City, there is also a growing buzz about Abedin herself running for office. We can’t say we wouldn’t love to see that.


Photo: Rex USA