NEW YORK — A child welfare agency has begun an investigation into Democratic former New York congressman Anthony Weiner following another sexting scandal involving him.

Weiner confirmed to The New York Times on Thursday he has received a letter from the New York City Administration for Children’s Services about the investigation.

The New York Post on Sunday published photos it said Weiner had sent last year to a woman he had never met. It said one of the photos showed Weiner in his underpants lying on a bed with his 4-year-old son.

Weiner is now separated from his wife, Huma Abedin, a top aide to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

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However, the separation between Weiner and Abedin had actually been brewing for a while, CBS News’ Nancy Cordes reported.

The two had been living separate lives, Cordes reported, and a close friend said Abedin was in the Hamptons with her son when the New York Post published the photo.

Within hours of the report, Abedin announced she was leaving Weiner.

Weiner also is a former New York mayoral candidate. He quit Congress in 2011 following revelations he was sending women sexually explicit messages.

Abedin stood by Weiner after his first sexting scandal in Congress unfolded, which prompted him to resign from his House seat. She also stood by him when more sexting revelations came out during his New York City mayoral race, all of which was chronicled in a documentary about Weiner.