Scandal-Plagued N.Y. Rep. Won't Run Again

(AP)  New York Rep. Vito Fossella will not seek re-election after a series of damaging revelations about a child from an extramarital affair, two people familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.

Both people spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to make the announcement public. Fossella was expected to make the announcement Tuesday.

Fossella, 43, has admitted to fathering a daughter with a Virginia woman.

The congressman's secret relationship with the woman, Laura Fay, was revealed after he was arrested for drunken driving May 1. Fossella was stopped after running a red light, and he told officers he was going to see his sick daughter, according to police.

Fossella is married with three children. The family lives on Staten Island.

He has served in Congress since 1997, representing Staten Island and part of Brooklyn. He is the only Republican member of Congress from New York City.

It was Fay who got him out of jail after the arrest. She is a former Air Force lieutenant colonel and worked for a time as a liaison to Congress.

After his arrest, police said Fossella's blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit, and he could face a mandatory five days in jail if convicted. A court appearance on the drunken driving arrest is scheduled for next month.

After the relationship was revealed, Fossella said he had no immediate plans to resign, but the disclosures were considered by many as a crippling blow to the career of a lawmaker once viewed a potential candidate for mayor of New York City.

He faced a surprisingly tough re-election challenge in 2006, and Democrats have been hoping to unseat him this year. After the admissions, Fossella got little public support to remain from leaders of his own party.

Fossella was elected to Congress in 1997 in a special election to replace Rep. Susan Molinari, who resigned. His socially conservative positions squared nicely with his largely Catholic district. He serves as a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

His work in Congress shifted dramatically following the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. Hundreds of Staten Island residents died in the attacks, and Fossella became a prominent advocate for families of those killed.

As more recovery and rescue workers got sick after toiling at the ground zero site, Fossella pushed for Washington to pay for their health care - an effort that met with short-term success, but no long-term program.

[macusweil]

Q: How many GOP insider cronies does it take to change a light bulb?

A: Ten

One to set up a shell corp as tax shelter in Dubai.
One to sign the multi year ''no-bid'' contract.
Two to drive away the armored car filled with US tax dollars.
Four to guard the armored car and shoot civilians for fun.
One to testify to Congress how the govt needs to double the original amount they were to be paid.
One to blame the Democrats for letting the bulb burn out in the first place.

[keithle1]

You can''t hide anything if you''re a public figure/politician. NOTHING. Don''t even try. You''re wasting your time. It all comes out. EVERY LITTLE THING you have EVER done. If the media doesn''t get you, the Web will. Or your friends. No such thing as a secret.

[aaabee-2009]

Not many people like that today is there. Posted by guysdigdirt at 05:16 PM : May 20, 2008

May I disagree with you on this?

I do believe there are masses of good, kind, hard working people in WA. Ethical and moral people who just keep working and doing their jobs to the best of their ability. Pick either party, there are good people in it.

These good folks get the same small kudos and thanks the rest of us working people get, not national news.

Good folks don''t get on the news because they don''t do the kinds of things that make the news, like having splashy affairs or secret kids or toe-tap in bathrooms.

We don''t hear about the good people, so why not believe there aren''t many left in WA.

It isn''t news that sells if the media focused on the good in people. The news that sells is the celebrity gossip, the latest Republican or Democrat fall from grace, or future telling about 08 elections. It is more interesting and "fun" to tear each other up over our differences, than it is to chat about the good things many many people do daily.

There are a lot of good people, in each party, in WA generally, in this nation, across the planet. They just keep doing good, no matter how bad it gets. :)

[guysdigdirt]

Quetzal
Queer
unusual
enigma
totally mezmerized by wide stances
zoolilogically on the bottom rung
always looking for a way to put others down- hopes it makes him feel bigger
little in every sense of the word

[quetzalcrist]

Taking a Wider Stance on Family Values,
G grand
O old
P perverts.

[guysdigdirt]

maybe some of those obsessed w/ his personal life, or his investments, his *** life, or his political past ... while ignoring the business of the country ... would be a better example of what an american should be.

the liar label can be easily placed across the board ... this is not a rare characteristic in politics.

who might be that shining example we should all emulate?
Posted by bobnjersey

I agree wit your sentiment, he should have not let his personal life get in the way of his duty as president. As the POTUS he had a job that put him in the spotlight and he needed to conduct himself with honor.

Who would be a good example? No one I know that you would know I am sure. No one in the public spotlight I can think of right now.

I would hope for someone with character, honesty, backbone, integrity, and a sense of duty over self. Not many people like that today is there.

[tasmhs]

Another GOP retirement from the House. Regardless of how Obama v. McCain plays out, the Dems are going to win big in both the House and Senate. The only thing that is left for the GOP is to pray McCain wins, that''s all that is left. And it''s a 50-50 proposition at best.

[bobnjersey]

[Does it really have to do with political party? Why don''''t we just say he, spitzer, clinton, craig, and all the rest of the deliquents are terrible examples or leaders and run themout of town on a rail.]
[Posted by guysdigdirt at 05:09 PM : May 20, 2008]

they''re all human ... and therefore all fallible.

the question is what impact their ''undesirable'' actions have on others ... if any.

[bobnjersey]

[If that makes you feel better to think all that then so be it. He is a liar and a cheat and not a decent example of what an American should be.]
[Posted by guysdigdirt at 05:06 PM : May 20, 2008]

i don''t believe i referenced anyone being an example at all.

maybe some of those obsessed w/ his personal life, or his investments, his *** life, or his political past ... while ignoring the business of the country ... would be a better example of what an american should be.

the liar label can be easily placed across the board ... this is not a rare characteristic in politics.

who might be that shining example we should all emulate?

[guysdigdirt]

Does it really have to do with political party? Why don''t we just say he, spitzer, clinton, craig, and all the rest of the deliquents are terrible examples or leaders and run themout of town on a rail.