Spokesman: Radel will resign in wake of guilty plea to cocaine possession
MIAMI (AP) – The Florida congressman who pleaded guilty to cocaine-possession charges last year will resign, his spokesman said Monday, after several GOP leaders requested that he step down.
Rep. Trey Radel, R-District 19, will send a letter to House Speaker John Boehner, spokesman Dave Natonski said. Politico first reported the freshman Republican’s upcoming resignation.
His Cape Coral office said this morning it has no information and referred questions as to whether they could confirm the resignation report and whether a press conference would be forthcoming to his Washington D.C. office.
Media relations officials there confirmed the resignation Monday morning and said the congressman’s letter would be released after it is sent.
On Nov. 20, Radel pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of cocaine possession and was sentenced to a year of probation. He admitted to purchasing 3.5 grams of cocaine from an undercover officer Oct. 29 in Washington.
Several GOP leaders, including Gov. Rick Scott, had asked him to resign. But Radel had pledged to stay in office and rebuild constituents’ trust after completing in-patient treatment for drug and alcohol abuse.
He entered rehab on Nov. 21.
Radel had been in office for 10 months when charged. His district includes the Gulf Coast cities of Cape Coral, Fort Myers and Naples.
The House Ethics Committee announced last month that it was launching a formal investigation of the congressman.
-The Associated Press