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Jail is Likely for Fossella, Say Lawyers
thehill.com ^ | 5/21/08 | Jared Allen

Posted on 05/21/2008 7:19:18 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY

If Rep. Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.) is unable to reach a deal with prosecutors on his DUI arrest, he will likely have to serve five days in jail before the end of the year, making him only the fourth sitting member of Congress to be locked up following a criminal conviction and dragging his troubles back into the spotlight just as Republicans were counting on them having vanished.

Not since Rep. John Dowdy (D-Texas) was sent to prison for his 1972 conviction for bribery, obstruction of justice and perjury has a sitting member of the House been sentenced to jail or prison following a criminal conviction, according to the House historian.

If Fossella has to serve jail time and steps down to avoid forcing House Republicans to deal with having a member of their conference locked up, he could trigger a special election in his district.

Under state law, any resignation before July 1 gives New York’s Democratic Gov. David Paterson the option of calling a special election. And Republicans have lost three special House elections since March. If Fossella resigned after July 1, there would be no special election and the seat would remain empty for the remainder of the term.

Fossella’s Staten Island seat is seen as a traditional GOP stronghold in the New York City area.

(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; US: New York
KEYWORDS: 110th; dui; fossella; ny2008

1 posted on 05/21/2008 7:19:18 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Drunk with power.

Throw him in jail - sick of these jerks.


2 posted on 05/21/2008 7:24:53 PM PDT by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God).)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

But he’s gonna finish his term.

Because he’s irreplacable. Right?

He seems to know no shame.


3 posted on 05/21/2008 7:26:46 PM PDT by mountainbunny
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To: Free ThinkerNY
I find it humorous he goes to the pokey while Jefferson- caught with a freezer full of cash-gets nothing.

I agree. Wait until July 2 and then resign. Then spend the five days in jail.

Jefferson will never see the inside. He is a Dem

4 posted on 05/21/2008 7:49:29 PM PDT by IrishCatholic (No local communist or socialist party chapter? Join the Democrats, it's the same thing.)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Had to be a Republican - party affiliation mentioned within the first 5 words of the article.


5 posted on 05/21/2008 8:06:51 PM PDT by Christian4Bush ("In Israel, the President hit the nail on the head. The nails are complaining loudly." - John Bolton)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

he’s gotta hurry up and get to rehab- take a page out of Pat Kennedy’s book.


6 posted on 05/21/2008 8:45:12 PM PDT by 4buttons
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To: 4buttons

Hell - take a page from Ted’s and skip the punishment altogether.


7 posted on 05/21/2008 8:50:28 PM PDT by Wally_Kalbacken
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To: Free ThinkerNY
Not since Rep. John Dowdy (D-Texas) was sent to prison for his 1972 conviction for bribery, obstruction of justice and perjury has a sitting member of the House been sentenced to jail or prison following a criminal conviction, according to the House historian.

Let's just ignore all the ones who resigned or were forced out before being incarcerated just so we don't have to mention the Democrats in much more recent history who were convicted of much worse. Names like Dan Rostenkowski, James Trafficant, Mel Reynolds, Walter Tucker III, Mario Biaggi, and a few others. All Democrats convicted of bribery, extortion, fraud, etc.

8 posted on 05/21/2008 9:11:14 PM PDT by eggman (Democrat party - The black hole of liberalism from which no rational thought can escape.)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Well I can’t say I’m sorry about that. He was the one who decided to break the law and the conesequences are on him. We need better Republicans, we’re never going to be able to get voters to believe that Republicans are different than Democrats if our politicians are just as sleazy as theirs are. I’m not happy about the guy we ended up with in Oregon this week either. Hopefully it’s all just lies about him but he didn’t do a very convincing job denying it in my opinion.


9 posted on 05/22/2008 7:19:50 AM PDT by CatherinePPP
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To: Free ThinkerNY

btt


10 posted on 05/23/2008 12:06:11 AM PDT by Cacique (quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat ( Islamia Delenda Est ))
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