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Vito Fossella 
Fri Oct 17, 2008 at 17:09:11 PM EDT
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(Late news is that Fossella has been convicted. - promoted by phillip anderson)
After several trial delays, Rep. Fossella (R-NY) had his court date today in Virginia for his DWI arrest on May 1.
The trial opened with Fossella lawyer asking for the case to be dismissed because of a lack of probable cause to arrest Fossella. The defense has been trying to claim several of the sobriety tests given to Fossella have been faulty.
The arresting officer took the stand. Not much new information was revealed.
Fossella took the stand in his own defense. He claimed he was nervous when pulled over for running a red light, which lead to his failure of numerous sobriety tests.
Josh Hahn the owner of Logan Circle Bar states Fossella was not intoxicated when he saw him in the bar.
Josh Hahn, the owner of the bar where Fossella allegedly got drunk after dinner, testified that the defendant appeared to be sober when he saw him. Hahn also denied reports that Fossella fell through a table at his establishment.
It was reported that Fossella was thrown out of this bar and is the last public appearance of Fossella prior to this arrest.
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Wed Sep 24, 2008 at 17:50:16 PM EDT
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It's now official. GOP candidate Bob Straniere has officially declined the judicial nomination that was very shadily thrown his way on Monday night.
Bob Straniere really meant it when it said he didn't want to run for the state Supreme Court judgeship for which he was nominated by the Manhattan GOP Monday in a last-ditch attempt by supporters of Rep. Vito Fossella to enable him to seek re-election.
At of 3:02 p.m. Straniere officially declined the nomination, according to the city Board of Elections. He filled out a certificate of declination and signed it.
Until he did so, he was on the GOP line for two different offices in three different boroughs (counting the little sliver of Brooklyn that's in the 13th CD). He is now merely a congressional candidate.
The Manhattan GOP has until Sept. 30 to fill the vacancy, although it's not like people are banging down the doors to run on the Republican line in Manhattan judicial races - a near-certain loss if ever there was one.
Also, Tim Cochrane has now officially accepted the Conservative Party line in NY-13, leaving Vito Fossella and his supporters nowhere to actually put their boy on the November ballot.
It would seem now all but certain that Vito Fossella's Congressional career will be over in January of 2009. He's done, for the 111th Congress at least.
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Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 09:10:08 AM EDT
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This is just too funny:
O.J.'s snoops join Vito defense
What does Rep. Vito Fossella have in common with O.J. Simpson, Patty Hearst and John Gotti?
The Staten Island GOP lawmaker has hired the same ex-NYPD gumshoes.
Private eyes James Harkins and John McNally are trying to keep Fossella out of jail on a misdemeanor drunken driving charge, the Daily News has learned.
The men, who snooped for the marquee defendants who were battling felony charges, are probing Fossella's wild night last month, which ended when he got plucked out of a drunk tank by his mistress, Laura Fay.
Fossella confidants confirmed the pair are interviewing workers at Washington's Logan Tavern, where bartenders said the congressman and a male pal were so drunk April 30 they got bounced.
Told of the big-city Mickey Spillane-types sniffing around his case, laid-back Alexandria Commonwealth's Attorney Randolph Sengel chuckled.
"Great," deadpanned the veteran prosecutor, upon learning of the duo's celebrity client list.
In Sengel's 28 years as a prosecutor, rarely has he seen a DWI defendant hire private eyes. "That's pretty unusual," he said yesterday.
Insert your own "If the gloves don't fit..." joke here.
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Wed May 21, 2008 at 09:40:16 AM EDT
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I mean, Jefferson, LBJ and JFK slept around, right? What's the big deal?
Let's get some perspective: Presidents such as John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson had extramarital affairs; Grover Cleveland and (it's now believed) Thomas Jefferson fathered children out of wedlock. Objective journalists would look at the entire person and not present a trivialized, prurient caricature.
Yeah, Pete. Vito is just like them, not just some nominally talented hack from Staten Island with two families, traveling the world with his mistress on the taxpayer dime while shunning his gay sister and prattling on about "family values" and driving while completely sh*tfaced. Yep, I totally understand now.
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Mon May 19, 2008 at 23:47:05 PM EDT
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The Staten Island Advance is reporting in an exlusive that "Papa Vino" Fossella will not seek re-election this fall.
Exclusive: Fossella will not seek re-election
In a bombshell announcement that brings the curtain down on one of the most storied careers in Staten Island political history, fifth-term Republican Rep. Vito Fossella will not seek re-election this fall.
Mired in scandal after revelations about the secret daughter he fathered with Virginia divorcee Laura Fay became public, Fossella (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) tells constituents in a letter to be posted on his Web site tomorrow that he will no longer serve them in Congress after his current term expires on Jan. 3, 2009.
"After a great deal of consideration, I have made the decision not to seek re-election to the United States House of Representatives this November," Fossella says in the statement. "This choice was an extremely difficult one, balanced between my dedication to service to our great nation and the need to concentrate on healing the wounds that I have caused to my wife and family."
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"Despite the personal mistakes I have made, I am touched by the outpouring of support and encouragement I have received from so many people," the statement reads. "Their kind words and prayers during this difficult time mean more to me than I can express. And while many have urged me to run for re-election, I believe this course of action is best for my family and our community."
Fossella made no comment beyond the written statement, and it's not known what he plans to do after leaving office. Also unknown is whether he plans to ever seek elective office again.
I had really wished that he'd stick around. Alas, that is not to be.
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Mon May 19, 2008 at 23:23:56 PM EDT
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(Nobody, but nobody has covered NY-13 better or more comprehensively over the years than Jonah. His NY-13 site is mandatory reading for anyone interested in the district. In this diary he lays it all out there, an excellent resource for those who wish to know all they can about the lay of the land in NY-13. - promoted by phillip anderson)
Rep. Vito Fossella has decided not to seek re-election.
"After a great deal of consideration, I have made the decision not to seek re-election to the United States House of Representatives this November," Fossella says in the statement. "This choice was an extremely difficult one, balanced between my dedication to service to our great nation and the need to concentrate on healing the wounds that I have caused to my wife and family."
Better Know This District
• Fossella has held this seat since a 1997 special election.
• The district is all of Staten Island and the neighborhoods of Brooklyn that include; Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst and Gravesend.
• Staten Island makes up 75% of the district and the last remaining Republican strong hold in NYC.
• This district has a D+1 PVI.
• Registered Democrats out number Republicans 5:3
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Wed May 14, 2008 at 05:46:41 AM EDT
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GOP super-hack Al D'Amato tells NY1 that not only will Fossella not resign, but that he'll run again and win.
"He's not going to resign," D'Amato tells NY1 political anchor Dominic Carter during tonight's "Wiseguys."
"He's either going to seek re-election or he'll decide because, and by the way, I don't think it has anything or much to do with winning or losing but the incredible publicity and strain that will [be] put on him and his family personally.
And that is the decision he has to make, and I think that if he runs, he can win. He can win as being an effective congressman, doing his job, connecting with people, but this will be an incredibly - day after day the publicity will be incredible."
I really hope he sticks around for another run. Please, Santa?
You can see the video here.
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Tue May 13, 2008 at 01:22:43 AM EDT
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By now you know Rep. Vito Fossella did some very bad things. There are a lot of news articles and blog posts covering his immoral behavior. I don't need to get into that, instead I am here to provide a better understanding of just who these potential Democratic candidates are that are suddenly being talked about. To start with only one candidate has declared for this race, Steve Harrison. Additionally City Council member Domenic Recchia is raising money for this race but has yet to declare his candidacy or put together a campaign staff of any kind for almost eight months. The rest of this diary is going to focus on three Democratic office holders from Staten Island; State Senator Diane Savino, Assembly member Mike Cusick and City Council member Mike McMahon.
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Mon May 12, 2008 at 16:57:15 PM EDT
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Fresh from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington:
Rep. Vito Fossella should resign immediately
Given recent disturbing reports about Rep. Vito Fossella's (R-NY) double life over the past several years, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) urges the Congressman to resign immediately. It is reprehensible that only after Mr. Fossella's DWI arrest was he forced to admit that he has two families. Aggressive reporting has also revealed that taxpayer dollars helped fund the long-standing affair. By traveling the world with retired Lt. Col. Laura Fay, Mr. Fossella used his position and public money to pursue his illicit affair.
Apparently, former Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) was aware of the affair. While in office, Mr. Hastert extolled his party's devotion to family values. But when did covering up your colleague's adulterous affair become a family value?
We still may not know the full extent of Mr. Fossella's wrongdoing. Were campaign contributions or congressional funds diverted to help finance his additional family? While this may be nothing more than a private tragedy, this situation clearly calls for a thorough investigation by federal authorities.
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Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:38:26 AM EDT
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A roundup from around the state:
The big story from the Daily News: Feds probe Fossella trip financing
Vito Fossella, Paragon of "family values", also from he Daily News: Fossella shuns his gay sister - source
Vito Fossella built a career as a staunch "family values" pol, polishing his image in his predominantly Catholic district with a string of anti-gay votes.
He even shuns his gay sister, Victoria Fossella, refusing to go to family events if she and her partner attend, a source close to the family said.
His double life is now exposed with the news he has a 3-year-old love child with a divorced Air Force colonel, and critics are calling him a hypocrite.
"Has the Catholic Church now sanctioned adultery?" asked John Adrian, a 64-year-old gay activist on Staten Island.
"That just makes him that more hypocritical."
As congressman, Fossella voted to prohibit any funding for joint adoptions by gay couples.
He has voted for the Marriage Protection Amendment, a federal prohibition on gay marriage.
He also demanded housing funds be held back from San Francisco unless it repealed its domestic partnership law.
The Staten Island Advance: Will he or won't he, only Vito knows
Republican Rep. Vito Fossella might announce that he's resigning today.
Or he might say that he's running for re-election.
Or that he's not.
We hear that his wife, Mary Pat, might file for divorce.
Or the couple may decide to try and weather the storm brought about by the revelation that Fossella fathered a secret child with Virginia divorcee Laura Fay.
Trying to decide what's in Fossella's heart and head, and getting it into print first, has become a media cottage industry of sorts over the last few days, with this "friend" or that "relative" supposedly having the inside track on what's happening with the congressman and his family.
But the truth is that nobody seems to know what Fossella will do, maybe not even the congressman himself.
"Every day, people are leaning into a different area of speculation," a GOP official said yesterday. "Nobody knows."
Should be a rather interesting day...
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Mon May 12, 2008 at 07:22:27 AM EDT
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Mon Dieu! It looks as if "Papa Vino" Fossella took his mistress and baby mama to Paris on a taxpayer funded junket and now both Democrats and Republicans on the hill are taking notice.
Feds probe Fossella trip financing
Democratic and GOP congressional officials are scrutinizing Rep. Vito Fossella's mysterious and pricey January 2003 trip to France, the Daily News has learned.
He was the sole lawmaker authorized to go - and his mistress is suspected of joining him.
The Staten Island Republican visited La Hague, France, supposedly on a "fact-finding" mission.
Lawmakers commonly visit La Hague to tour its nuclear fuel reprocessing plants, which have 6,000 people on its payroll, making it the largest employer in the region.
But "it's highly unusual for a member to go on the France trip alone, as he did," said a committee source.
Now the question is whether Fossella was less interested in nuclear power than in fueling a relationship with retired Air Force Col. Laura Fay: Last week he admitted fathering Fay's 3-year-old daughter.
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Team Fossella has refused to answer questions about the France trip, despite discrepancies in his official records.
He filed two forms with the House clerk: One said he was in France on Jan. 16 and 17, listing the trip as privately financed travel costing $388.48.
The second form listed the trip as from Jan. 14 to 18 and authorized by the Energy and Commerce Committee, with a cost to taxpayers of about $6,900.
What's interesting to me about this story is the involvement of the GOP. It looks as if they are fueling this story in hopes of getting rid of Fossella, despite his apparent determination to stick around.
This story reads to me as "Vito, meet bus. Love, the NRCC."
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Sun May 11, 2008 at 01:45:10 AM EDT
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As Phillip indicated on Friday, it appeared at the time that Rep. Vito Fossella (R-Staten Island) was going to step down no later than Monday.
But if the New York Post is any indication, Fossella might be sticking around to run again in November.
Defying disgusted constituents and angry Republican leaders, disgraced Rep. Vito Fossella has told pals he plans to seek re-election.
And, shockingly, the Staten Island pol is feeling "pretty good," he confided to friends.
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Fossella's statements not only defy national party leaders, who have said they will not back him, but suggest the congressman may be in denial.
He even expressed shock that other Republicans are eyeing his seat.
"What's this all about?" Fossella asked Molinari, of news reports naming potential GOP candidates.
He said he was "surprised" and "puzzled" that party colleagues are being mentioned as possible replacements, Molinari said.
Those close to Fossella continue to support him, Molinari said. "Vito is surprised and emboldened by the support he's been getting."
Fossella also received some support from a good friend yesterday - Rep. Peter King. King criticized Republicans for their approach with Fossella while expressing support for his good friend.
Long Island congressman Peter King slammed fellow Republicans for "posturing" by pressuring his close friend Rep. Vito Fossella about resigning amid revelations of Fossella's drunken-driving arrest and secret love child.
"To me, it's putting a knife in the back of a good guy who's made a mistake," said King (R-Seaford).
King, who said he'd been with Fossella "continually" in the past few days, said the two have not discussed how the scandal might tint Fossella's political future.
King said Republicans "who are supposed to be his friends" should be giving the Staten Island-Brooklyn Republican "the time and opportunity to make that decision" -- whether to resign, to serve out his term but leave afterward or to stay in office and seek another term -- "himself."
I think Fossella should resign. Going to D.C., having a child out of wedlock and getting a DWI (a very serious DWI) should tell constituents that he isn't going to Congress to represent them. He appears to be going there to live a double life.
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Fri May 09, 2008 at 17:19:29 PM EDT
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Could we be looking at a Friday Afternoon Congressperson Dump? Jay DeDapper of WNBC says Fossella will be gone by Monday at the latest and could very well decide to pack it in this afternoon.
Fossella Resignation Could Come Soon
Several top New York Republicans said that Congressman Vito Fossella's resignation will come within the next 72 hours -- if not late Friday then certainly by Monday.
There was political concern about how best to preserve the seat for the Republicans -- questions about immediate resignation versus finishing out his term and retiring -- but the calculation is there's nothing to be gained from Fossella sticking around. While Staten Island Republicans believe Fossella could at least serve out his term (the rest of the year) national Republicans want him gone. Now.
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Smart strategists say watch for something later this afternoon (rule: dump bad news on Friday afternoons when news consumption is low and so it will end up in the lesser-read Saturday newspapers) but a New York Republican keeping a close eye on all this says Fossella's decision may not come until Monday.
Stay tuned.
Too bad. I was really hoping he'd stick around at least a little while longer...
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Fri May 09, 2008 at 12:56:15 PM EDT
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Honestly, I had really hoped that "Papa Vino" Fossella could hang on. I mean, at this point he's easily the opponent I'd like our Dem nominee to face in November. Alas, it's simply not to be as the calls for his resignation intensify by the hour and come closer and closer to home.
Here's a roundup of sentiment from around the district:
Staten Island Advance: Mr. Fossella, Resign
Because of that moral descent, and the distractions and ugly controversy all of it brings, he should resign from his seat in the House of Representatives.
And he should do so immediately.
Far too much damage has been done to his personal reputation and credibility at this point for him to recover and be an effective public servant.
And there is too much potential for pointless and endlessly embarrassing digressions into this scandal if he chooses to stay in public life.
We wince at the thought of his wife and children and other family members having to endure needless weeks and months of gossip and speculation were Mr. Fossella to foolishly try to hang on. The circumstances have pushed this far beyond the question of his political survival.
New York Post: Time To Go, Vito
That Fossella betrayed his wife and family is between him and them. But his betrayal of his constituents was only marginally less egregious.
Vito Fossella needs to just go away.
Now.
New York Daily News: In Vino Veritas
Get thee to jail, congressman.
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Thu May 08, 2008 at 19:40:04 PM EDT
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The Daily News has a web poll accompanying their story about his admission of the affair and child he fathered out of wedlock. The results so far? Not so good for Papa Vino:
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Thu May 08, 2008 at 16:08:59 PM EDT
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It seems "Vino" Fossella's predicament grows more dire by the hour. House Minority Leader John Boehner just told the drunk driving adulterer from Staten island to take a little time to think long and hard about his future. Sounds grim.
Boehner advises Fossella to make a decision over the weekend
House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) said Thursday that fellow Republican Rep. Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.) should do some serious thinking over the weekend about his political future.
Earlier in the day, Fossella acknowledged that he "had a relationship" with Laura Fay, a retired Air Force officer who paid his bail after he was arrested last week for drunk driving - and that he is the father of her 3-year-old daughter.
"I think Mr. Fossella is going to have some decisions to make over the weekend," Boehner said at a press conference with reporters.
"I would hope and frankly expect, that this is a decision between he and his family," Boehner said.
Fossella said Thursday he will be making no immediate decisions about his political future.
Boehner side-stepped questions on whether or not he thought Fossella should resign, saying it is a decision for Fossella to make after consulting with his family and his constituents.
There isn't going to be any rallying around Fossella from the GOP. Looks like Vito is being hung out to dry...
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Thu May 08, 2008 at 13:24:04 PM EDT
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(A reader inquired about this in the Vino Finito thread. As the saying goes, ask and you shall receive.)
The news today regarding Rep. Vito Fossella (R-Staten Island) does not bode well for the Republicans. But this sure opens up things on the Democratic side in the 13th congressional district.
First, the two candidates already "in" the race. New York City councilmember Dominic Recchia, at last check, is not "officially" in the race but he is raising money. His April filing shows that he raised $127,840.12 in the first quarter of this year and he has $325,175.77 cash on hand.
Steve Harrison is the other candidate in NY-13. He ran against Fossella in 2006 and lost by 14 points - not bad considering he is a Brooklyn candidate in a district where Staten Island in 2006 accounted for about 74 percent of the vote (based on population). Harrison's April filing was not as impressive as Recchia's, considering Harrison has only $91,131.73 cash on hand.
Liz reported today that Assemblyman Mike Cusick has been contacted by the DCCC in hopes of getting him to run. Cusick calls Staten Island home, which certainly is a plus and his experience as an elected official will help with name recognition.
Sen. Diane Sevino's name is also being tossed around as a possibility.
The Democrats do hold the enrollment advantage in the district, having approximately 42,500 more Democrats than Republicans.
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Thu May 08, 2008 at 12:09:25 PM EDT
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Vito Fossella is toast and I think we'll most likely be seeing a special election for that seat this summer. Vito admitted having a long time affair this morning as well as fathering a child, a daughter, with his mistress in a Thursday morning press release.
Fossella admits to affair, out-of-wedlock child
Rep. Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.) said Thursday that he had an extramarital affair that has resulted in a three-year-old daughter in a statement released through a public relations firm.
"My personal failings and imperfections have caused enormous pain to the people I love and I am truly sorry," Fossella said in the statement.
"While I understand that there will be many questions, including those about my political future, making any political decisions right now are furthest from my mind," the lawmaker, who was arrested for drunk driving last week, said. "Over the coming weeks and months, I will to continue to do my job and I will work hard to heal the deep wounds I have caused."
Following the arrest, the New York tabloids had speculated that an illegitimate child was involved.
There were rumors of an affair back during the race in '06, but I don't think many people knew who the mistress actually was. What I don't think anyone knew about was the child. Now it appears the GOP is bailing on Vito in a big way and now polling the district in anticipation of his imminent departure.
National Republican leaders have "lost all faith" in Rep. Vito Fossella and are poised to begin polling in the 13th CD on potential candidates to take his place on the ballot, despite the fact that he has yet to make a definitive statement about his future political plans.
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The poll could start as early as today, according to a Washington GOP source, and will likely include at least two names: Sen. Andrew Lanza and Staten Island DA Dan Donovan.
Another national GOP source said Fossella's fellow House minority members were "shocked" to learn of his "double life," and his admission that he fathered a child out of wedlock with retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, Laura Fay.
I think Lanza (and Savino on the Dem side) are too precious in their current seats to spare. I think the GOP will likely back either Oddo or Donovan to replace Fossella and I'd give the edge to Donovan here.
Regardless, it should be obvious to anyone that Vito's days as a congressman are definitely numbered. He's done.
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Wed May 07, 2008 at 16:09:50 PM EDT
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James L. over at the SSP is all over the growing nature of Staten Island Republican Congressman Vito Fossella's recent woes. Recall the drunk driving arrest that may result in a mandatory 4 day jail sentence due to the extremely high BAC of .17, twice the legal limit! Well it seems his excuse was to respond to a call to get a little girl to the hospital. The short of it is that Fossella may well have an out of wedlock child in Virginia! This all adds new meaning to the states old tourist campaign, Virginia is for Lovers! On the flip, I cross posted in James L. SSP post. See if you do not agree with me that Fossella may need to resign shortly that can possibly result in a Special Election!
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