This story couldn't have happened to a better guy than Vito Fossella, currently occupying New York's 13th Congressional District. Drunk driving is, as Vito said, a bad error in judgment, though not necessarily something that affects his judgment as a Congressman. There are plenty of bad political judgments on Vito's part that have nothing to do with driving a car under the influence of drugs (yes, alcohol is a drug). Still, this is an election year and this DWI will play into how voters cast their ballots in November. The story could have gone away within a few days, but now there's more ethical troubles for Mr. Fossella.
From The NY Daily News:
This is the first look at the mystery woman whom Rep. Vito Fossella (R-S.I.) called for help after he was charged with drunken driving in Virginia.
Laura Fay, wearing sunglasses and dressed in jogging clothes, refused to comment when she was approached over the weekend.
Fay is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and marathon runner. Public records show the divorcee owns a townhouse in Alexandria, Va. She also reportedly has a 3-year-old daughter.
Fossella aides continued to describe the two only as good friends. Fay picked up Fossella last Thursday morning, seven hours after he was arrested for running a red light 3 miles away from her townhouse.
The mystery woman sounds scandalous, but the real problem is that he is using campaign funds to pay for a high-priced "damage control" firm. It isn't illegal, but as Dick Dadey of the Citizens Union said, "...it shows bad judgment." That is what is at the heart of this, Vito has bad judgment all around and this is just one example of it, or should I say three bad examples.
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