Indiana state rep apologizes for sexting with Sydney Leathers

Indiana Rep. Justin Moed is apologizing for sexting with Sydney Leathers, the Evansville woman at the center of the 2013 Anthony Weiner sexting scandal.

"I am truly sorry I have hurt the ones I love most with my poor judgment. I am committed to rebuilding trust with my family and my community. This is a private matter and I ask for it to be treated as such. I apologize to my constituents and to everyone I have let down," Moed said in a written statement sent to The Indianapolis Star.

Moed, who is engaged to be married in September, did not return a call for comment Tuesday.



TheDirty.com reported Tuesday that Moed responded to an ad Leathers posted seeking a submissive she could "financially dominate." Texts Leathers provided to the site show a photo allegedly of Moed's naked backside.

The site reports that Moed's name was accidentally included on a pink leash and collar he bought for Leathers on Amazon.com, which is how she reportedly determined his identity.

The New York Post first reported on the interaction last week, but did not name Moed at the time. Leathers told the Post, "Is he displaying poor judgment by sexting me of all people? Obviously."

Leathers told The Star in a profile published last year that she was in school, "a couple semesters away" from an associate degree in radio and TV, and was still trying to use her notoriety to keep her adult-film career alive after appearing in four X-rated videos.

A Leathers spokeswoman said Leathers was not available for comment Tuesday.

A former U.S. representative, Weiner in 2013 was the front-running New York City mayoral candidate who cratered when it was revealed he was carrying on — virtually, through social media — with Leathers and others. He'd done the same thing just two years earlier and resigned his congressional seat.

Moed is serving his second term as a Democrat representing much of Downtown Indianapolis. Before that he worked as an Indiana House staffer.

A House Democrat spokesman declined comment Tuesday afternoon. A spokeswoman for House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, said the speaker called the news an "unfortunate situation" but declined further comment until more details were available.

In 2011, another state lawmaker admitted to answering a posting on Craigslist from a young man seeking a "sugga daddy." Then-Rep. Phil Hinkle used his personal email account to arrange to pay the young man — he turned out to be 18 — $80 to "have a good time" in a Downtown hotel.

Hinkle disputed Gibson's account of their meeting in 2011. He was later removed from his post leading the House Government and Regulatory Reform Committee, but was not forced to resign. Hinkle retired in 2012.

Call Star reporter Tom LoBianco at (317) 444-7136. Follow him on Twitter: @tomlobianco.