NEW YORK, May 3, 2008
N.Y. Congressman Apologizes For DUI Arrest
Republican Pleads Forgiveness, But Will Not Resign, After Driving At Twice Legal Limit Of Alcohol
-
Rep. Vito Fossella, R-N.Y., listens to a question Friday, May 2, 2008, at a press conference in New York. Fossella, who represents Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn, was arrested early Thursday outside Washington and charged with driving while intoxicated. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
- Stories
- N.Y. Congressman Busted For DWI
Vito J. Fossella, who represents Staten Island and part of Brooklyn, was arrested outside Washington early Thursday after a dinner celebrating the football team's meeting with President Bush to honor this year's Super Bowl win. He said he was heading to meet some friends in Virginia when he was pulled over in Alexandria.
Court records show that Fossella, who was charged with drunken driving, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.17 percent, more than twice the legal limit. If he is convicted, he will have to serve a mandatory five days in jail due to a minimum that kicks in for levels above 0.15 percent.
CBS Station WCBS reports that Fossella held a carefully-scripted press briefing in Staten Island on Friday, coached by aides and refusing to answer specific questions about his arrest.
Pleading forgiveness, he said he failed to set an example and deeply regrets his actions.
"This was an error in judgment," he said. "This was a mistake I will never make again."
According to The New York Times, the Alexandria, Va. police report stated Fossella had a “strong smell of alcoholic beverage” and failed several sobriety tests after he was stopped for running a red light. Fossella reportedly told the policeman that he was driving to pick up his daughter to take to the hospital.
However on Friday, the Times reports, Fossella said that he was on his way to visit friends when he was pulled over.
Fossella announced he would not resign. He would not comment on the specifics of the case.
"Politics right now is the last thing on my mind. Right now, it's the embarrassment I caused my family, my friends and the people of this community," he said.
The New York congressman spent more than six hours in jail. The arrest could complicate a re-election bid this year for Fossella, who is New York City's only Republican representative in Congress.
The Democratic Party has eyed Fossella as a potential target in elections this year, when Republicans were already expecting an uphill fight. Two Democrats are competing in a primary for the chance to unseat him.
Political consultant Mike Paul, who has served as an aide to Republicans including former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Sen. Alfonse D'Amato, said Fossella has already taken the right first step by not waiting to speak publicly.
"Long term, this is a flash in the pan," Paul said. "He's got to handle it the right way and get back on his message."
Even though Fossella has spoken out against President Bush on some issues like the Iraq war, the national Republican leadership has rallied to lend him a hand in his re-election campaign, sending Vice President Dick Cheney to endorse him recently.
Fossella won the seat in a 1997 special election while serving on the City Council.
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
More From U.S.
The secrets of tennis legend 
- 1
- 2
- next
See all 39 Comments--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by skyk at 10:09 AM : May 04, 2008
+ report abuse
he found grqatification in the fact that he was republican and christian. He thought it was nice to see him brought low because he was a christian. He didn''t care about the violation and thinks apparently that only christians are looking for undesserved forgiveness. He apparrently wouldn''t have felt that way if he was a liberal dem who didn''t stand up for family values. I guess if you don''t stand up for morality then when you do something wrong it isn''t wrong or you just don''t get your jollies from it.
I''ve noted a signifcant double standard whereby people who advocate family values and screw up are lambasted and liberals for want of a better term can do the equivalent and not get the same criticism.
It tires me to here that only conservatives or christians are self righteous but liberals who have created this elaborate political correctness standard are never. See the fall of Don Imus and the many that defended him for doing what I consider obscene
HOW. WE THE PEOPLE DONT WORK OR DO ANYTHING FOR A FEW WEEKS, SEE HOW FAST THEY START DOING SOMETHING FOR AMERICANS, WHEN NO MONEY IS GOING ONTO THE GOVERNEMNT FOR A FEW WEEKS, SEE NO FOOD BEING DRIVEN TO STORES, THIS IS THE ONLY WAY WE AS AMERICANS CAN TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK.. SO AMERICANS BETTER WAKE UP AND LETS START A COMPLETE BOY-COTT OF WORK..THIS WILL ONLY WORK IF ALL DO IT.
for-america@hotmail.com
but I think I would rather go hunting with *** Cheney .......
than to go for a drink/car ride with Teddy Kennedy.
Are you crazy??? or just a republican?????
How many people designate a driver when they go to a bar/nightclub with their friends?
If you drive to a bar by yourself, you''re not going to get a cab & leave your car on the street all night in the city. You''re going to take a chance & drive home. After you have had more than a few, it won''t even enter your mind that you shouldn''t be driving.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by alanrobisch2 at 09:20 AM : May 04, 2008
+ report abuse
THAT is NOT what he said and YOU know it! God where do you freaks come from?? These Snake Oil Salesmen go out pander to high heaven on "Family Values" and you poor people just keep drinking the Kool Aid. It''s beyond disgusting. NO politician has EVER been able to give ANYONE "Moral''s"....
Nutsie....
Ya forgot blowyobs in the men''s room!!! ROFLMFAO!!! F*uck the GOP!
But, but, but the surge is working.
Tell you libs what, when ole drunken teddy resigns then this guy should resign.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by ontheleft at 01:00 AM : May 04, 2008
I guess since you have no belief in anything anything you think is okay is okay.
Posted by veteran72 at 09:47 PM : May 03, 2008
HAHAHA pretty funny ...
but I think I would rather go hunting with *** Cheney .......
than to go for a drink/car ride with Teddy Kennedy.
Posted by alanrobisch2 at 09:56 PM
Go face a mirror and preach to yourself.
Posted by alanrobisch2
By the way, I''ve never put people''s lives at risk because of my own selfishness. So, yes, I do feel good about myself. And drunk driving is the ultimate act of selfishness and arrogance. That makes me a million times better than Mr. Fossella.
Posted by alanrobisch2
No, just someone who believes in just rewards. But, of course we all know how understanding and tolerant that christian conservatives are. They just love everybody, don''t they? It''s not intolerant to be intolerant of those who are intolerant. Get it?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by Rafterman1 at 08:33 PM : May 03, 2008
+ report abuse
I hope you feel good about yourself. You sound like an arrogant bigot
- 1
- 2
- next
See all 39 Comments