Fossella to leave Congress at end of term

NEW YORK, May 20 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Vito Fossella, New York City's only Republican in Congress and subject of recent scandals, said Tuesday on his Web site he won't seek re-election.

Fossella, 43, has been in the spotlight since his May 1 arrest in a Washington suburb, when he was charged with drunken driven after reportedly having a blood alcohol level of 0.17 percent, twice Virginia's legal limit. A week later, Fossella revealed he had been going to visit Laura Fay, acknowledging he and Fay had had an extramarital affair and were the parents of a 3-year-old girl, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

Fossella has been married to Mary Patricia Rowan since 1990. They have three children

"The choice was an extremely difficult one, balanced between my dedication to service to our great nation and the need to concentrate on healing the wounds that I have caused to my wife and family," the statement said. "And while many have urged me to run for re-election, I believe this course of action is best for my family and our community."

Until Monday, Fossella signaled he would seek a full sixth term, despite expressions of displeasure by the U.S. House of Representatives Republican leadership and others who had supported him in the past.