Trey Radel, the freshman Republican representative who was charged in November with cocaine possession, is getting ready to go back to work Tuesday when Congress' new session kicks off.
Radel had pleaded guilty to misdemeanor cocaine possession after getting busted and spent 28 days in an in-patient treatment program at a Hazelden clinic in Naples.
See also: Trey Radel Was Arrested by Undercover Agent Posing as Coke Dealer
Radel, 37, who represents the 19th Congressional District in the Fort Myers-Naples area, was arrested October 29 for "unlawfully, knowingly and intentionally" possessing "a quantity of cocaine," according to documents.
In between being elected in 2012 and doing blow, Radel had spent the majority of his time wanting to possibly impeach Obama over gun-control laws. He also voted against the deal that eventually ended the government shutdown.
But then he was pinched by an undercover cop in Washington, D.C., who sold him 3.5 grams of cocaine.
Documents also said Radel bought and used cocaine on "several occasions."
When news of his being busted for coke broke, a spokesperson for House Speaker John Boehner released a statement on the speaker's behalf, saying, "Members of Congress should be held to the highest standards, and the alleged crime will be handled by the courts. Beyond that, this is between Rep. Radel, his family, and his constituents."
Other Republican leaders began to emerge and called for Radel's resignation, including Lenny Curry, chairman of the Florida GOP.
And Gov. Rick Scott was all about Radel's resignation as well, saying, "I agree with the party chairman. Trey is going through a tough time. My prayers and my wife's prayers are with his family. But we have to hold all of our elected officials to the highest standards."
But as Congress gets back to work on Tuesday, Radel is all about mending trust with his fellow GOPers, as he told news-press.com.
"Undoubtedly, the first thing I have to do is restore a lot of trust and make amends, and only then can I return to what I love doing and what I was elected to do," he said in a telephone interview.
Radel called his days at the treatment facility "life changing."
He also said that, while some are calling for him to resign and others are gunning for his seat, he's all about what all politicians who get caught doing naughty things are about.
"Right now, the most important things for me are God and family," Radel says. "And with that I'm excited to get back to work to rebuild trust and continue doing the work for the people."
And so, there you have it.
Radel is back at it come Tuesday.
The world is either being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it.
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