Press Descends on Fossella's Post-DWI Ride

Even though Representative Vito Fossella is apologetic and looking for forgiveness, there are still questions about the woman who picked Fossella up from the Alexandria, VA jail.

Laura Fay is described as a 45-year-old retired Air Force colonel, who is a single mother with a young daughter. Susan Del Percio, Fossella's newly hired consultant to deal with his DWI crisis, told Staten Island Advance the congressman and Fay became friends when she was a House military liaison. And a source told the Daily News, "He doesn't want to bring anybody else into a matter that was his error."

Well, if you're wondering why Fossella would choose to call a friend who would undoubtedly come under scrutiny (whether single or married) versus calling an aide, let's point out that Fossella had a blood alcohol of 0.17--twice the legal limit--so his judgment was probably impaired. But the Advance also wondered:

When asked why Fossella would call Ms. Fay given the fact that the congressman's chief of staff, Thomas Quaadman, lives in Alexandria, Ms. Del Percio said, "He chose to call a good friend. Someone he has known for a long time."

Fay hasn't responded to media requests (the News reports, "A blond woman leaving the garage at Fay's home in runner's gear declined to identify herself or answer questions."). However, a neighbor was willing to say Fay was a stay-at-home mom until recently, but she didn't know anything about the toddler's father.

Oh, and also, Fossella's spokesman claimed he hadn't seen the arrest report so he couldn't explain why Fossella's claim to the Alexandria police that he (drunkenly) ran a red light because he was picking up his sick 4-year-old daughter was different from his press conference excuse of seeing some friends.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on May 4, 2008 10:30 AM

Comments [rss]

yuva

The 45 years old people have only a four years old daughter.

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yuva

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sonyactivision

"45 years old and blonde". Cue the Bob Seger soundtrack.

JacqueMehoff

HA, even Virginians hates Yankees,

even a republican Yankee.

Your pizza flippin don't fly down South.

just saying

Wait a minute. I just read the link. Fossella told the cop he was speeding and ran a red light because he was rushing to pick up his daughter to take her to the hospital. Apparently that was a lie. Fossella is good at fooling his constituents with his lies but he wasn't able to fool the cops with some lame excuse for drunk driving. What a jerk.

just saying

Hmm. Very strange. Fossella had a female "friend" pick him up from jail? He couldn't get anyone else to pick him up? Like his wife or an aide for example.

He must have been really drunk not to realize that being picked up by an attractive female would raise some questions. Politicians. Ugh.

sj

Separate from the DWI issue, why does anyone give a shit who gave him a ride home from the jail? That's definitely not news. Makes me feel a little sorry for the "journalist(s)" camped out near Fay's house waiting for her to come out. I mean come on, really? Slow news day? No real news to work on? There's gotta be something more important for that guy to do. I mean jesus, she gave the guy a ride home. BFD.

bornbrednewyorker

Jen, worthy of three stories? And this one isn't news it's inane gossip.

Jen Chung

When a congressman gets arrested for DWI, it's definitely news!

bornbrednewyorker

What is this Gothamist obsession with Fossella? Hopefully the voters on Staten Island and Brooklyn will put him to bed in November.