(CNN) -- When former U.S. congressman Anthony Weiner admitted two years ago to sending explicit messages and photos to women online, his wife was notably absent, letting Weiner make his public mea culpa alone. But on Tuesday, Huma Abedin was front and center as Weiner confessed to having further explicit exchanges, even after the first scandal forced his resignation from Congress. Abedin, 36, is no stranger to politics. She has worked for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for years and accompanied her husband on the campaign trail in his current bid for New York City mayor. She had her first news conference on Tuesday, however, and she admitted to being nervous -- but it was her moment to defend her husband of three years and describe her struggle to forgive him.
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Huma Abedin was notably absent when Anthony Weiner admitted to 2011 scandal
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She is now at her husband's side amid the latest sex chat revelations
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Abedin, 36, says it's been a struggle, but she forgives him
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She has worked with Hillary Clinton since 1996 and was a top State Department aide
Although she is described as a very private person, Abedin's intelligence, striking style, unusual background and ability "to make the trains run on time" brought her attention well before her July 2010 marriage to @placeholder.