See ya, Vito

If I were still living on Staten Island, this guy would be my soon-to-be-former Congressman.

Speculation on the political future of Rep. Vito Fossella (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) is running rampant today after he acknowledged that he is the father of a 3-year-old daughter with divorcee Laura Fay, the retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who picked him up from an Alexandria, Va., jail last week after he was busted for DWI.

"I have had a relationship with Laura Fay, with whom I have a three year old daughter," the married Fossella said in a prepared statement e-mailed to reporters by consultant Susan Del Percio. "My personal failings and imperfections have caused enormous pain to the people I love and I am truly sorry."

Ms. Del Percio said Fossella would not personally address the media today.

Fossella and his wife, Mary Pat, have three children.

Former GOP Borough President Guy Molinari, who has been among those advising Fossella since the scandal broke exactly one week ago, said that confronting the issue of the child he has with Ms. Fay had been "overwhelming" for Fossella.

"He's in a very difficult mood," said Molinari, who used to hold the congressional seat that Fossella sits in. "He's just in a period of trying to do the right thing."

I'm guessing the right thing would have included not driving drunk, not fathering a child out of wedlock, and not lying about it after getting busted, but it's a tad late for all that. I'll have to ask my dad what he's hearing about this from his buddies back home.

Anyway. Chalk up another tough-to-defend open seat for the Republicans, as if they didn't have enough of those. Daily Kos and Julia, who like me has roots on the Island, have more.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on May 08, 2008 to