Vito's Troubles Continue

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.

Vito Fossella Gets Himself Into A DUI-sey

I rarely write more than one post a day on the 13th Congressional District of New York in one day, but today Congressman Fossella pressured me into it. See Staten Island's Congressman not only helped pen an Op-Ed in the NY Daily News today, he was arrested for drunk driving late last night down in the Washington area.

From The Washington Post:

Rep. Vito J. Fossella (R-N.Y.) was arrested overnight in Alexandria and charged with driving while intoxicated, court records showed today.

Fossella is scheduled to appear in Alexandria General District Court on May 12 for an advisement hearing, the records said.

No other details were immediately available.

Reached by phone, Fossella's communication director had no immediate comment on the report.

If I were working for Vito, I'd have no comment either, so I don't blame the poor staffer. Maybe Vito had trouble writing that phony piece about FISA last night before it was published and he decided to get hammered. Later on in the day Vito did come out and make a statement that drinking and driving is bad and that as a parent he knows better. He also apologized for embarrassing his district.

Um Vito, the DWI is embarrassing for you and your family. The district is embarrassed because you side with George Bush, you support his war and abandoning the rule of law so that telecommunication companies can escape prosecution for their crimes against the American people. Though before the voters get to you on that this November, you'll have to deal with the rule of law for your own person first.

Scalia's Daughter Charged With DUI And Child Endangerment

Although the Supreme Court justice has never been charged with this crime, I still say the apple doesn't fall from the tree. Dear daughter Ann was stopped in the town of Wheaton, Illinois with her three small children in the van with her. Apparently someone at a McDonalds saw what appeared to be a drunken driver and reported it to the authorities.

From The Chicago Tribune:

Ann S. Banaszewski, 45, was stopped about 7:25 p.m. in a 1996 Ford Econoline van near Gamon Road and Longfellow Drive after a citizen reported a possible drunken driver was at the McDonald's restaurant near there, Meloni said.

Three of Banaszewski's "small children" were in the van with her at the time, leading to the child endangerment charge, Meloni said. He would not disclose their ages. Meloni would also not disclose details of her alleged intoxication, but said she submitted to a field sobriety test, though he could not disclose its outcome.

Thomas Meloni, the police chief of Wheaton knew about their 'Supreme Court daughter' resident and frequently patrolled her neighborhood due to her status. The children were dropped off at a family friends' house and she was taken to the local police station and released.