Apr 17, 2009 1:27 pm US/Eastern
Former NY Rep. Vito Fossella Due In Virginia Jail
Former NY Rep. Fossella Pleads Guilty To DUI
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
-
-
Former NY Rep. Vito Fossella's DUI arrest led to revelations that Fossella had a secret mistress, Laura Fay, and a love child that his wife, Mary Pat, knew nothing about. That brouhaha caused him to lose his seat in Congress.
CBS
Former New York Rep. Vito Fossella will be spending his weekend in a Virginia jail.
Fossella has been ordered to report at 6 p.m. Friday to the Alexandria Detention Center. He gets out at 6 p.m. Sunday.
The former Staten Island congressman pleaded guilty to drunken driving on Monday.
His jury trial was to begin then in the case that ruined his political career.
His May 1 arrest led to revelations he had fathered a child from an extramarital affair.
"He wanted to accept responsibility and end this, so he decided to do what we thought was the courageous thing and pled guilty to the charge," said Jerry Phillips, Fossella's attorney.
Fosella, 44, looked bleary-eyed and unshaven in the police mug shot taken after he was stopped last May. The "family values" politician claimed that tests showing him with a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit were inaccurate.
He was determined to fight. So what changed his mind?
"A lot of thought concerning the consequences of what could happen in a jury trial," said Phillips.
Fossella's lawyer said that the death last week of 22-year-old Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart – killed by a drunk driver – also played a role in the guilty plea.
"That had some impact," said Phillips. "He was concerned about that and a lot of the issues he had to go through. His family and him had had lots of things that have publicized that have been hurtful."
The arrest led to revelations that Fossella had a secret mistress, Laura Fay, and a love child that his wife, Mary Pat, knew nothing about. That brouhaha caused him to lose his seat in Congress, but Mayor Michael Bloomberg had kind words for him.
"I think in all fairness, he's standing up and taking responsibility," Bloomberg said.
Constituents were happy to see him make the guilty plea.
"I'm glad he pleaded guilty because that's what he deserves to get. Whatever the law allows him to get, that's what he deserves," one New Yorker told CBS 2.
Fossella also must spend a second weekend in jail. He was given credit for one day he served when he was arrested.
CBS 2 Polictical Reporter Marcia Kramer contributed to this report.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
World's Most Useless Facts
Click to enlarge
Many NJ Towns Running Out Of Salt, Money 1 hr 22 mins ago 
Stumble It!
Comments