Vito Fossella's Got Nothing on Ted Stevens
Most eyes in Washington are focused on the trial of Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) as he takes the stand again today in his federal corruption case. But others are interested to see whether Rep. Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.) can beat his misdemeanor drunk driving charge at his trial in Alexandria General District Court this morning.
The 84-year-old Stevens, the first U.S. senator to face trial in more than two decades, has to prove that he didn't lie on his financial disclosure forms about receiving $250,000 worth of gifts from the head of an oil company. Fossella, 43, just has to prove he wasn't as drunk as police said he was the night he was arrested last May.
Fossella's legal team, led by Barry Pollack, intends to contest the results of the breathalizer machine, which found the congressman's blood-alcohol level was at .17, twice Virginia's legal limit. If the judge rules in favor of the prosecution, Fossella faces an automatic 5 days in jail. Though, if convicted, he's expected to appeal.
But the drunk-driving charge was just the tip of the iceberg for Fossella's woes, the loose string that unraveled a salacious and ultimately politically fatal story of his secret mistress and love child. Fossella was on his way to see his mistress, Laura Fay, and their then 3-year-old daughter, when he was pulled over for running a red light. Fay picked him up later at the police station.
The revelation of his secret family in Alexandria, Va., forced Fossella, who is married with three children on Staten Island, to announce his retirement.
Unfortunately for the New York tabloids, which made Fossella's story all the more exciting to follow, no big names are expected to take the stand in his drunk driving trial today. Just cops and breath test experts. And sources involved in the case weren't sure whether Fossella's wife, Mary Pat Fossella, or Fay would show up in court.
By
Mary Ann Akers
|
October 17, 2008; 8:06 AM ET
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Posted by: Redeemer | October 17, 2008 10:51 AM | Report abuse
you stay classy Redeemer.
Posted by: noah | October 17, 2008 11:29 AM | Report abuse
GREAT MOVE SEN.OBAMA PULL ON RUDY G.LAST
NIGHT WITH THE LIPSTICK ON THE PIG!AND
ON RUDY,DAMM I LIKE THIS GUY I THINK HE
WILL BE A OUTSTANDING EXECUTIVE!HE MANAGES
TO GET IN A PUNCH NOW AND THEN,EVEN RUSH
WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW IS MOM USE TO DRESS
HIM UP LIKE A LITTLE GIRL ON HALLOWEEN,
HE EVEN INCLUDE HIGH HEELS,I HAVE TO FIQURE
WHY THEY HATE SO MUCH CAUSE THEY ARE HAPPY
WITH THE SITUATION THAT THEY WERE BORN
IN THE WRONG BODY! IT'S A SHAME GUYS OCHS
HOPE I DIDN'T SAY THE WRONG THING!
Posted by: Anonymous | October 17, 2008 11:33 AM | Report abuse
The Borgen Project has some good info on the cost of addressing global poverty.
$30 billion: Annual shortfall to end world hunger.
$540 billion: Annual U.S. Defense Budget
Posted by: maryna1 | October 17, 2008 12:00 PM | Report abuse
ALRIGHT,THE SUPREMES JUST RULED THAT THE
OHIO SEC. OF STATE IS WITHIN HER POWERS,GOP WAS TOLD TO SCREW THEMSELVES,
SEC. JENNIFER BRUNNER ,THANK YOU SO MUCH
THE U.S.S OHIO IS CAUGHTING UP WITH THE
FLEET! S.O.S. MISSOURI WHAT SAY YOU,WE
HAVE 19 DAYS BEFORE THE LONGEST DAY!
HEY KEN BLACKWELL AND FACIST REPUBS,KISS
OUR ARSE!
OBAMA/BIDEN
Posted by: NEW VOTER | October 17, 2008 3:16 PM | Report abuse
Obama,this lady should get an appointment
with your adminstration,we talking cabinet
level! She did/nt let no dust settle on
her service to the Ohio citzenry! and
were is john edwards, we nees his help
in N.C i hear that the state gov. is really
suppression our troops down there in dixie
land.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 17, 2008 3:39 PM | Report abuse
John Edwards is blessfully out of sight. That's the only way he can help the Dems this year.
Posted by: newageblues | October 17, 2008 5:33 PM | Report abuse
but tell us more about what's going on in North Carolina.
Posted by: newageblues | October 17, 2008 5:35 PM | Report abuse
Little bit of dis, little bit of dat, pretty soon you got real trouble. See Writing Frontier's "It's always the little things" at
Posted by: Writing Frontier | October 17, 2008 5:44 PM | Report abuse
The Washington Post had censored the news of Mahoney's criminality, Jefferson, van Hollen, and Charlie Rangel. But heck, lets dig up all the old republican scandals. It is election time. Can't cover the bad democrats, so let us go after republicans. It is the job of the Washington Post to effect the election.
Posted by: Karen | October 17, 2008 6:04 PM | Report abuse
Actually, Sen. Stevens does not have to prove he did not lie. DOJ has to prove that he did. But conventional wisdom in the criminal defense bar is that you don't put your client on the stand because when he offers his own version, that obscures the point as it did for you, and while the government retains the burden of proof as a matter of law, in fact, the jury is instead focused on whether the defendant told the truth or not. So it is curious that he is testifying. Perhaps the powerful Senator didn't listen to his attorneys' advice?
Posted by: fmjk | October 17, 2008 6:04 PM | Report abuse
Yo, Karen -- I don't think the Post is trying to "effect" the election by reporting on the trial that is actually going on rather than the ones that aren't. There is simply no news in the other cases at this time -- but when there has been, they have been covered very closely. It was Stevens who asked for a speedy, pre-election trial, so it was Stevens, not the Post who decided when it would be news.
Posted by: fmjk | October 17, 2008 6:08 PM | Report abuse
Why do republican lawmakers get caught in hypocrisy, and corruption so very, very often?
They rail against sex like Puritans to gin up the religio-facist voter base, then engage in gay bathroom sex, keep secret wives, and father illegitemate children. They take payoffs for favors, and accept home renovations all the while claiming ignorance. They make kick-back deals with millitary contractors, and criminal lobbiests. Then they go to church to ask forgiveness.
Vito deserves to be toast - not because of cheating - his wife will handle THAT. He deserves to be toast because he is a raging HYPOCRITE!
SWEEP OUT THE REPUBLICAN SCUM FROM WASHINGTON DC ON NOV 2!
Posted by: JBE | October 17, 2008 6:17 PM | Report abuse
GO OBAMA!
Posted by: Bill Ayers | October 17, 2008 7:29 PM | Report abuse
Barrack the vote for the Messiah! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OowxMcVTjTE
Posted by: LOUIS FARRAKHAN | October 17, 2008 7:35 PM | Report abuse
George Washington: "I cannot tell a lie."
Richard Nixon: "I cannot tell the truth."
Palin/McCain: "I cannot tell the difference."
You notice Palin's on top.
Posted by: Bill | October 17, 2008 8:40 PM | Report abuse
All you Liberal, remember? Bill (slick willy) Clinton. Press. of the USA. That Guy got impeached by the House. What a discrase to the office. You fasict pigs make me sick.
Posted by: Bob | October 17, 2008 9:09 PM | Report abuse
You say Ted Stevens "has to prove that he didn't lie on his financial disclosure forms..."
No. That's not how it works. The prosecutors have to prove that he did.
Remember burden of proof?
Remember innocent until proven guilty?
Stevens "has to prove" nothing. Nor did Fossella.
In each case, the government must prove them guilty
"beyond a reasonable doubt."
I don't know if that was just lazy writing, or if it reflects a lack of understanding of basic Constitutional rights but, either way,
you-or the Washington Post--might be well advised to correct it.
Posted by: Joe McGinniss | October 17, 2008 10:45 PM | Report abuse
The Repubs can't complain. They just socialized our economy. By thier reasoning, we can't afford to let the rich fail. What trollope. So much for thier sacred cow-the free market. Proves that thier principles are contingent on the situation.
Posted by: Anonymous I | October 18, 2008 12:01 AM | Report abuse
Stevens doesn't have to prove he did or didn't do anything. The burden is on the government to prove he lied.
That is why this trial is doomed.
Posted by: AKChris | October 19, 2008 3:22 AM | Report abuse
What a great weekend for the dem's we
hit the little lottery,looks like the
the u.s.s missouri, will meet with the fleet,
that is so powerful Missouri because
Missouri is the gateway to DIXIE! now we must get the last missiissippi river states
to join our task force like tenn.ark,ky,
La,and Miss.straight flush down the middle
of the country,also welcome aboard gen.
Powell sir! History will remember this
I wish that I could give you a medal
for your Distinguish service to your
country and want for your meitious service
to our campain.I see Rush e-mail to
the press's last night,and he was as usual
saying that powell just endorse Obama cause
he was Black,and that Michael fcc appointment.was because he was your son
but we fear not,because Rush we know that
it is your creed to seek the first male
son,he can not help himself,just have a
cross somewhere near him, and that will contain him for Me,our battle between
us have been for told Satan(Rush) you
are I will have no allies our foes in
the wilderness!so Rush stay down in that bunker of yours,no matter what! if Mr.O
win,lose are drawn I know my mission!
because I know and possess the WORD!
PS Thank you Noah for the complientmant!
Obama?Biden
Posted by: Redeemer | October 20, 2008 9:22 AM | Report abuse
WOW. THE LONGEST DAY -11/04/08 SWEET!
Posted by: IKE | October 20, 2008 9:52 AM | Report abuse
Rush has to pray to that GOLDEN CALF,
thats his higher power redeemer. Good
luck to you Man!
Posted by: Anonymous | October 20, 2008 9:58 AM | Report abuse
RUSH LIMBAUGH IS CAPTAIN GRUNCH TO
GENERAL POWELL,WHO ANNOINT THIS CLOWN
4F SOFA WARRIOR,IF FEEL SORRY FOR
MY COUNTRYMEN IF HE IS OUR LEADER,AND
I AM A MIDDLEAGE WHITEMAN(VETERAN)DID THIS
JERK ELECT HIMSELF TO SOMETHING? BECAUSE
I DON'T REMEMBER HIM HIS WEIRD LOOKING AZZ
ON MY BALLOT!
Posted by: SPEC 4 WEATHERS | October 20, 2008 10:29 AM | Report abuse
MISSOURI GATEWAY TO DIXIE? I LIKE IT!
OBAMA/BIDEN
Posted by: COL.SANDERS | October 20, 2008 11:20 AM | Report abuse
Does anyone find these comments of any value? Go home and don't come back until you have something worth saying.
Posted by: Abernathy | October 20, 2008 11:53 AM | Report abuse
Screw you abernathy,I don't find you
of any value,all we been hearing about
from the reich wing side of this election
is joe sixpack,joe the plumber,mcpain
is campaining on theses main stret themes
so what about G.I.Joe,and will you repub's
throw them under the bus like Gen.Powell?
LIMBAUGH LOVING SCUMBAGS!
Posted by: ME M.F. | October 21, 2008 10:43 AM | Report abuse
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I wonder if Gen.Powell will throw himself
on his sword again for another worthless
facist loving republician,the courts should
call his real buddies like Norm,and sarah
if they really want to get to the Truth!
And if the Supreme court takes the Ohio
voter registration drive suppression case
how about Scalia and Thomas recluse themselves,they are also facist polictical
hacks,that would'nt know what real democracy was if they fell in it.The
repub's are trying to screw with our ground
game by geting the J.edgar hoover fbi
to purge our new voter rolls in red states
the reich wing radio crowd are beating
the drums, for the Bush gov't to take brown
shirt action against Acorn,like his highness Rush (copperhead)limbaugh and
Jason(Hitler Youth)Lewisand of course
Seanita(I Swallow) Hannity!
this this time1
Obama/biden