A top staffer is exiting a New York public relations firm over the hiring of former Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) there, the New York Post is reporting.
{mosads}MWW is losing top executive Arthur Schwartz over Weiner’s controversial addition as public policy expert in July, according to the Post.
“This is a direct reaction from Arthur’s business associates being uncomfortable with Anthony Weiner,” O’Brien Murray, a consultant and associate of Schwartz, told the newspaper.
“Corporations don’t want the image of working with a firm that is affiliated with Anthony Weiner,” Murray added.
The Post reported that Schwartz, 43, who had served as the company’s senior vice president and managing director since October 2014 before departing this month, was one of the Democratic-leaning firm’s only Republicans.
“Michael Kempner is a very talented man who built a great company,” Schwartz told the Post of MWW’s founder, a major Democratic fundraiser for President Obama and the Clinton family. “I’m sure MWW will do just fine.”
“People I worked with @MWW_PR are intelligent and have integrity; I remain friends with them,” Schwartz added on Twitter. “Simply a difference of opinion.”
“We thank Arthur for his loyalty and service and will always consider him part of the MWWPR family,” said MWW Executive Vice President Don McIver, according to the newspaper.
Weiner, who is married to top Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin, resigned from Congress in 2011 after multiple reports emerged that he had sent illicit pictures of himself to young women over social media.
Schwartz and Weiner notably clashed on Twitter this summer, the Post noted.
“In related news, George Pataki hasn’t been seen all day,” Weiner tweeted on Aug. 28, mocking former Gov. George Pataki (R-N.Y.), who is also a 2016 White House hopeful.
“In unrelated news, @GovernorPataki is a man of honor and integrity and you’re . . . well, you’re @AnthonyWeiner,” Schwartz responded to his new co-worker. “No explanation necessary.”