Once rising GOP star, Fossella's political life in tank, Fam valuer w/ mistress, love child, DUI

[Liberal_in_LA]

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/10/17/2008-10-17_once_a_rising_gop_star_vito_fossellas_po.html

Once a rising GOP star, Vito Fossella's political life in tank
BY LARRY McSHANE
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Friday, October 17th 2008, 11:40 PM

It was 10 days short of Mother's Day when Vito Fossella ran a red light - and turned his life into a car wreck.

The Staten Island congressman was stopped just after midnight in Alexandria, Va. The married father of three was quickly arrested for drunken driving and hauled to the local drunk tank.

Seven hours later, on the morning of May 1, the six-term Republican's mistress collected him there. Soon, the world knew the pair had a 3-year-old love child.

When Mother's Day arrived, there was no celebration at either household.

The disgraced Fossella - his double life torn open like a box of chocolates - spent the day in hiding, avoiding both mothers, all four kids and a horde of reporters.

The one-time proponent of family values - and rising star in the GOP - has rarely emerged since. He became the lamest of lame ducks, a congressional cipher.