Updated 6:54 p.m., 12/19/2013
(CNN) -- U.S. Rep. Trey Radel, who pleaded guilty to cocaine possession, left a rehab facility in Florida on Thursday, expressed remorse and said he planned to return to Washington to continue serving in Congress.
"I love what I do and I'm going to return to what I do, what you sent me to do in Washington, D.C., which is working for you and your family while I relish mine," Radel said at a news conference in Cape Coral, Florida.
"And no one, no one will take away my passion when it comes to serving Southwest Florida," he added.
Radel said he's thankful for his support system and "remorseful" for his actions.
The Congressman said he used cocaine a handful of times but said alcohol was the focus of his treatment.
"Alcohol is my issue," he said. "I know have a step by step program and a rediscovery of faith and family and God, which I had lost over the years to focus on what's important."
A Republican tea party favorite, the freshman lawmaker announced he would take a leave of absence after admitting to buying cocaine from an undercover agent last month in Washington.
He was placed on probation. The House Ethics Committee plans a formal investigation.
The chairman of the Republican Party of Florida has called on Radel to step down.
Radel said that he had "a lot of work to do to rebuild" trust, and not just of Republican Party members.
When asked if he would run again in November, Radel said: "Politics and re-election are the absolute last thing on my mind right now."
CNN's Dana Davidsen contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
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But will the hypocrite step down from his position?
So he's cured? Let's lock him up for 20 years and hear the right wing outrage.
Gotta love the way reality likes to throw up these lovely juxtapositions like this to poop all over the GOP/Teatrolls' racist ranting. Oh wait...maybe this is just more unfairness to the "REAL" victims here...white people and krischuns....right? I mean, why didn't Obama commute this guy's probation? So unfair!
"What about my right to have as many wives as I want??? Where did this limit of one come from? In other countries you can have more than one, why not here?
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What does your wife say about that?? LOL"
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You think Krischun conservative bigot dudes like that would (or can) marry women who would even think of "talking back"?
Was he pardoned by Obama?
If he was black, he would be finishing the first month of a 20 year sentence, but he is a right wingnut.
Bwahahaha! What was that? Like two weeks in rehab and now he's squeaky clean? What a joke. The man should have the decency to resign. Ain't that right Diaper Dave Vitter?
Let me guess: he used to be a drug addict, but now he's not? Just be sure to not leave anything of value lying around when he's present, and for Dog's sake don't loan him any money!
It's a miracle! Rader is cured! Only the self-righteous, tea party criminals can be cured in a day. (Seems like a day).
Now, back to judging other people.
Pander Bear
Bwahahaha! What was that? Like two weeks in rehab and now he's squeaky clean? What a joke. The man should have the decency to resign. Ain't that right Diaper Dave Vitter?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Didn't you get the memo? IOKIYAR.
Oops. Did I say Rader? Sorry, but is he cured of his alcholoism that "drove" him to cocain? Winning!!!
Winning
Was he pardoned by Obama?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
One would have to serve jail time to be pardoned. This guy didn't even get a slap on the wrist. His constituents in Florida face stiffer penalties if they're caught with a joint in their pocket.
Obama is giving drug dealers clemency. Liberals agree drugs are not criminal anymore. He never should have been charged. He might have been unfairly prosecuted because he is white.
Yes, another upstanding family value Conservative. What a load a crud. Tax evaders, child support stiffers, drug addicts – what do you expect from a bunch of greedy, selfish, fearful/hateful (two sides of the same coin), shortsighted, narrowminded, self-rightous, misogonistic, racially insensitive, 13th century troglodytes.
But other than that, teabaggers are really nice people.
Guest
Obama is giving drug dealers clemency. Liberals agree drugs are not criminal anymore. He never should have been charged. He might have been unfairly prosecuted because he is white.
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Yeah, except if he wasn't white he'd have gone to jail and he'd still be there, and if he was a dem your ilk would be screaming for his resignation. Can you say false equivalence?
And he donated his salary to charity. How many of your boss's would be paying you if you went into a rehab for a month?
GOP is cocaine dealers? I bet fox knew, with Glenn Beck, Rush, Karl, Koches, Sheldon, trump etc. God save us from miscreants.
Ahhhh, the hypocrisy on both sides.
You have those on the right defending this guy – if this guy was a dem, the repubs would call for him to step down
You have those on the left with zero compassion for a man that apparently has a drug addiction problem – where is your compassion for a sick person?
This race baiting has got to stop. A first time drug possession offender would not go to jail. All you are doing is making the race problem worse with stupid, inane and flat out incorrect statements.
Why does race have anything to do with this? Classic liberal move. So sad.
Gary
And he donated his salary to charity. How many of your boss's would be paying you if you went into a rehab for a month?
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How many of your bosses wouldn't fire your backside after word got out you got busted for buying coke?
@Mikey
Yes, another upstanding family value Conservative. What a load a crud. Tax evaders, child support stiffers, drug addicts – what do you expect from a bunch of greedy, selfish, fearful/hateful (two sides of the same coin), shortsighted, narrowminded, self-rightous, misogonistic, racially insensitive, 13th century troglodytes.
But other than that, teabaggers are really nice people.
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perfect – nice one.
Malory Archer – "1Can you say false equivalence?"
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Disagree. More like the typical ridiculous hypocrisy we are used to getting from the right. What does Jon Stewart call it? Cognitive dissonance?
Out of rehab and cured in a month. Is that the norm?
He needs to step down, and the sooner the better or he will face obvious parody to Canadian mayor.
as far as i know, most rehab facilities last 30-90 days