Ethics Panel Punts on Fossella

22 Dec 2008 // STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A House ethics panel has ended its investigation into disgraced Staten Island Rep. Vito Fossella without taking action.

Fossella (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) was recently sentenced to five days in jail for drunken driving in suburban Virginia back in May. The arrest led to revelations he'd fathered a child in an extramarital affair.

"On May 21, 2008, an investigative subcommittee was established to conduct an inquiry regarding Representative Vito Fossella with respect to his arrest on or about May 1, 2008 in Alexandria, Virginia for the misdemeanor criminal charge of driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol," the committee said in a statement released yesterday.

"The subcommittee concluded its work without a recommendation of further action against Representative Fossella. The investigative subcommittee had deferred action in this matter because of the pendency of the criminal proceedings involving Representative Fossella. Representative Fossella did not seek re-election, and the Committee will lose jurisdiction over him when his term expires on Jan. 3, 2009."

Fossella, 43, appealed his conviction, which under Virginia law means he's entitled to a jury trial.

Democrat Michael McMahon, currently the North Shore city councilman, won the congressman's seat after Fossella chose not to seek re-election.

It was recently reported that Fossella could be fined by the Federal Election Commission if he fails to pay back more than $136,000 that he raised from donors after he withdrew from the race for Congress this year.

On Sunday, more than 1,000 people attended a brunch Fossella hosted at the Hilton Garden Inn in Bloomfield.

"I have no plans to run, no plans whatsoever," he said then. "There are no plans whatsoever to do anything other than start the next chapter of my life. ... Whatever the future holds is in God's hands."