Former Congressman Anthony Weiner has initiated steps to run for a position on the New York City Council, indicating a potential return to the political arena following the dramatic fall of his career due to sexting scandals and a subsequent criminal conviction related to inappropriate online interactions with a minor.

Records pertaining to campaign finances reveal that Weiner established a campaign committee named Weiner 25 on Friday, positioning himself as a candidate for a council seat in lower Manhattan.

In a phone interview on Tuesday, Weiner, a member of the Democratic Party, shared that he is “still exploring” the possibility of actively campaigning for the council position. He mentioned the formation of his committee was timed to allow his participation in an upcoming forum organized by the Downtown Independent Democrats later this week.

When pressed for more details, Weiner directed inquiries toward statements he has made in recent episodes of his radio show, “The Middle with Anthony Weiner.” During the show, he expressed his uncertainty, saying, “I haven’t decided if I want to do this yet” as he considers the implications of re-entering public service.

Weiner previously served a congressional district in New York City for approximately 12 years before he resigned in 2011 due to sending inappropriate photos to multiple women. He attempted to revitalize his political career in 2013 with a mayoral campaign but faced further setbacks after new allegations about explicit images he sent while using the alias “Carlos Danger” emerged.

In 2017, Weiner pleaded guilty to charges related to illicit online communications with a 15-year-old girl, resulting in a 21-month sentence in federal prison. He was released in 2019, following which he was mandated to register as a sex offender.