From left, Rep. John Conyers, Jr., D-Mich., Rep. Trey Radel, R-Fla., and Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas hold a news conference at the Capitol on Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Updated 8:30 p.m.
Henry “Trey” Radel was arrested on Oct. 29 for possession of cocaine in D.C., according to D.C. superior court documents. The 37-year-old freshman congressman from Florida was charged with misdemeanor possession on Tuesday and is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.
Radel faces a maximum of 180 days in jail and a possible fine of up to $1,000. The 37-year-old politician who calls himself a “Hip Hop conservative” in his Twitter bio, is a former journalist, TV anchor and talk-show host. He won his seat last November.
Radel released a statement Tuesday, in which he said:
“I’m profoundly sorry to let down my family, particularly my wife and son, and the people of Southwest Florida. I struggle with a disease of alcoholism, and this led to an extremely irresponsible choice. As the father of a young son and a husband to a loving wife, I need to get help so I can be a better man for the both of them.”
A DEA official told the Associated Press that Radel allegedly bought cocaine from an undercover agent on Oct. 29 after Radel was identified as a cocaine buyer by a suspected drug dealer (who had been arrested in a separate drug investigation). DEA spokeswoman Barbara Carreno confirmed that the charges resulted from a joint DEA-FBI investigation.
With reporting by Zeke Miller
This post was updated at 8:30 to reflect information from the Associated Press about Radel’s arrest.