Chairman of Florida GOP calls on Rep. Trey Radel to step down
(CNN) - The chairman of the Republican Party of Florida called on U.S. Rep. Trey Radel, who pleaded guilty last week to misdemeanor cocaine possession, to step down in a statement released Monday night.
"The people of Florida’s 19th Congressional District need a Congressman who is 100 percent focused on the needs of Southwest Florida. Therefore, Congressman Radel should step down and focus his attention on rehabilitation and his family," said Chairman Lenny Curry.
Radel, a Republican and a tea party favorite, was charged with cocaine possession after authorities said he bought a small amount of cocaine in a sting in Washington last month. Radel pleaded guilty to the charges and was placed on one year of probation.
Radel, 37, said last week that he would take a leave of absence for an unspecified time, donate his salary and enter an inpatient drug treatment program.
"I have no excuse for what I have done. I have let down our country," he said at a news conference.
Radel was elected last year to represent southwest Florida's 19th Congressional District.
CNN's Dana Davidsen contributed to this report.
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It is nice to hear that. It is a shame that Beohner isn't doing the same.
The guy who voted to through people off food stamps if they had positive urine tests. Typical Republican hypocrite. Please vote all of them out!
The Republican Party of Florida is calling on disgraced congressman Trey Radel to "resign immediately" after his conviction for cocaine possession.
Chairman Lenny Curry released a statement saying that the 37-year-old should quit and "focus his attention on rehabilitation and his family".
He won election easily last year with the support of Tea Party activists.
If he was a radio talk show host he would still have his job , unfortunately he is a US congressman.
TEAPARTY / TEAPARTY / TEAPARTY
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Honestly,
I hope he finds recovery ,
The only thing he has to change is his whole way of thinking .
Honesty , Open-mindedness and Willingness are not Teaparty attributes.
Finally someone sane from the GOP asked Radel to step down!! It's about time the GOP and tea party must act to stop their idiocy!!
It's about time. Radel should be in jail. The Guns Over People tea potty hid in their cubbyholes like cowards for a week.
A Hyppocrite and a Liar , well qualified if you asked me to represent the republicans and the tea – party .
He should step down.
Well, well, well. Somebody has a pair of cojones and it's not the weeper of the house divided.
Imagine that.
Buying drugs from an undercover cop leads to just rehab? Anyone of us thinks that if we had done it we would not still be in jail?
I am no T-party fan, but I do think all deserve a second chance. In my opinion all members of congress, all elected officials should be subject to drug screens. Here in Michigan they havve made it mandatory to submit to a drug screen in order oto receive food stamps and other state aid. (something like that) So why ddid they not subject themselves to drug screens? I worked as a correction officer for the state and was subjected to a drug screen in order to get hired, and random screens there after. All state employees have to follow this. Why not legislators too? Peace
I want him to stay in office so he can be voted out and replaced with a dem instead of an incompetent republican , time for the dems to control the teaparty legislature here in Florida and get rid of Scott too!!! Remember the lines he caused in 2012 trying to rigg the vote for Romney and the GOP?????