Fossella to retire from politics

20 May 2008 // Vito Fossella today made official what most in Washington anticipated for weeks: he will retire from politics after admitting he fathered a child outside his marriage, likely ceding another Republican congressional seat to the Democrats.

"Despite the personal mistakes I have made, I am touched by the outpouring of support and encouragement I have received from so many people," Fossella said in a statement announcing he would not return to Washington after his term expires in the fall.

Fossella's troubles began when a mysterious woman showed up to rescue the conservative following his May 1 drunk driving arrest. Once her identity was revealed - retired US air force officer Laura Fay - the 3-year-old daughter she bore to Fossella could no longer stay secret.

The scrutiny of the congressman's private life began immediately, playing out in detail in the tabloids of his New York City district. As more details emerged, the scandal took his career down with it.

Adding insult to injury for the beleaguered Republican party, Fossella's legacy may be to hand his congressional seat over to the Democrats this fall. He is the 30th Republican in the US House of Representatives to step aside from Congress after this year.

Fossella was already dealing with two well-funded Democratic opponents, attorney Steve Harrison and New York City council member Domenic Recchia, before the drunk driving arrest. Recchia is considered the party establishment's favourite, particularly after he refrained from public comment on Fossella's scandal while Harrison was forced to backtrack on his early call for the Republican to resign.

Fossella's resignation is likely to spare him the stress of an ethics investigation into whether his actions violated rules. A liberal-leaning Washington watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, filed a complaint against him yesterday.