fossellafive.org

From Next Left Notes:

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The Staten Island Advance broke the story today: local peace activists won’t have Vito Fossella to kick around any more. The man Terrible Tim describes as having “twice the family values of most republicans” announced today he will not seek re-election to the U.S. Congress.

It wasn’t years of lap dog support for President Bush’s aggressive wars or even a string of anti-veteran votes that brought down arch-conservative Vito Fossella, congressman from New York’s 13th Congressional District (Staten Island/Brooklyn). Fossella — who opposes reproductive rights and shuns his gay sister Victoria in the name of “family values” — announced his intention not to seek re-election today. He did so in the wake of multiple scandals. His drunk driving arrest on May 1 led to the revelation that Fossella was involved in a long running extramarital affair with Lt. Colonel Laura Fay (USAF Ret.) and had fathered a child with her. The final straw may have been yesterday’s announcement that watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington had filed a request with the House of Representatives ethics committee to investigate whether Fossella used tax payer monies to fund a trip abroad with his mistress.

Fossella’s statement has been posted to his congressional website: http://www.house.gov/fossella/

“May 20, 2008

To the Constituents of the 13th Congressional District:

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. 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.

For over 10 years, I have had the distinct privilege of representing the people of Staten Island and Brooklyn. I have been humbled by their support and honored to represent them in Congress. Over the years, we
have achieved many great things that have helped make our community and this country a better place to live - from closing the Fresh Kills Landfill, to saving Fort Hamilton, to helping New York cope with the pain and recover from the 9/11 attacks. I am extremely proud of these and other achievements and the fact that our work has made a positive difference in the lives of so many people.

It is for this reason that I will continue to serve you and our community for the duration of my term, which will expire on January 3, 2009.

Despite the personal mistakes I have made, I am touched by the outpouring of support and encouragement I have received from so many people. 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.

Representing the people of Staten Island and Brooklyn has been the most rewarding professional experience of my life. I am forever grateful to all those I have had the honor to serve.

Sincerely
Vito J. Fossella
Member of Congress”

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (SI Advance) — Vito Fossella’s well-deserved shame at being arrested for driving while intoxicated last week evolved rapidly in the interim into abject disgrace.

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.

Yesterday, in a written statement, the married father of three admitted not only having an extramarital affair with a divorced Virginia woman, but also fathering a child by her.

Continue Reading…

Sally Jones and Thomas Good, members of the Fossella Five*, have released the following statement on the arrest of Congressman Vito Fossella for driving while intoxicated:

While we would never advocate placing a human being in a cage and calling that rehabilitation, we are aware that this is precisely what the great state of Virginia may do to Vito Fossella should he be convicted of driving while intoxicated.

There is one possibility for salvaging this regrettable state of affairs: both the congressman’s self described “error in judgment” and the Old Dominion’s punitive approach to treating alcohol abuse. We pledge that should Vito Fossella indeed be incarcerated for drunken driving, we will visit him in jail. We would do so in order to comfort the congressman in his hour of need and because this might be our only opportunity to meet with our representative — previously Mr. Fossella has been unavailable to meet with his constituents. We would gladly put time aside to meet with our fellow Staten Islander to discuss both his present difficulties and his positions on the Iraq War, health care, the Patriot Act, and immigration. We hope to see something positive come from this unfortunate situation and we want to support our congressman - we know what it is like to be incarcerated as we were arrested in the congressman’s office when we attempted to speak with him, a little over a year ago.

[*The Fossella Five were arrested in Rep. Vito Fossella’s Staten Island office on March 23, 2007, for reading the names of the (US) war dead aloud and demanding a meeting with their representative so they might discuss the position he holds on continuing the U.S. occupation of Iraq. ]

Vito Fossella’s DWI Mug Shot

STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE:

Vito Fossella (Staten Island Advance Photo)

Thursday May 01, 2008, 2:33 PM

Rep. Vito Fossella was arrested last night in Alexandria, Va. and charged with driving while intoxicated, the Advance has learned.

Fossella, who is facing re-election this year, is set to appear in Alexandria General District Court on May 12 for an advisement hearing, according to a published report.

Fossella chief of staff Thomas Quaadman and spokesman Craig Donner did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment. Nor did campaign spokeswoman Georgea Kaye.

No other details are available.

–Contributed by Tom Wrobleski