Florida Rep. Trey Radel Pleads Guilty To Cocaine Possession

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: DCist

Rep. Trey Radel, a freshman Republican from Florida, pleaded guilty this morning to a misdemeanor count of cocaine possession.

As many media outlets reported, Radel was sentenced to a year of probation by a D.C. Superior Court judge. Radel purchased 3.5 grams of cocaine from an undercover agent he met at a Dupont Circle restaurant in a "buy and bust" operation. The deal, worth approximately $250, went down in the officer's car. Radel was then informed by officers that the jig was up and returned with them to his apartment. He was never arrested.

Read more: http://dcist.com/2013/11/florida_rep_trey_radel_pleads_guilt.php

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Rep. Trey Radel pleads guilty on charges of cocaine possession
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/rep-trey-radel-expected-to-face-judge-on-charges-of-cocaine-possession/2013/11/20/b029caba-51ce-11e3-a7f0-b790929232e1_story.html

By Keith L. Alexander, Dana Hedgpeth and Aaron Blake, Updated: Wednesday, November 20, 10:49 AM

Freshman Rep. Trey Radel (R-Fla.) pleaded guilty in D.C. Superior Court on Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge of possession of cocaine, after buying the illegal drug outside a restaurant in Dupont Circle late last month.
....

Judge Robert S. Tignor sentenced Radel to one year one probation while he undergoes treatment in Florida. Radel said he is also seeking counseling in the District. Tignor said he took into account that this was Radel’s first offense.

If Radel violates the probation, he will have to serve 180 days in jail. He also had to pay a $260 fee. His attorney had sought six months probation at the court hearing.

Well, that takes care of that. Probation and $260 in court costs. See? Crime* does not pay.

* I'm sufficiently libertarianish to believe that if someone chooses to use drugs recreationally, if said use is not causing him any health issues or exposing the greater community to any risk, he ought to be able to do just that and, further, that said use does not constitute a crime.

Additionally, if drug use does cause someone or the community problems, the proper course of action is treatment, not incarceration. If the user has committed crimes to feed his habit, that activity should be dealt with by the legal system.

[brucefan]

1. Never Arrested?

[mahatmakanejeeves]

4. Arrest is for little people.

Last edited Thu Nov 21, 2013, 09:33 AM - Edit history (2)

ETA: a commenter at DCist.com pointed out this:

Article I, Section 6, Clause 1: Privilege from Arrest
http://www.law.cornell.edu/anncon/html/art1frag20_user.html#art1_sec6

Section 6. Clause 1. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.

Also:

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html

More editing: The amount of cocaine he purchased (not "was alleged to have purchased," as he pled guilty) added up to a misdemeanor.

[Major Hogwash]

17. Just us. ~ Richard Pryor, circa 1972.

Jail is for Black people.
Just us.

[diabeticman]

2. Shouldn't he be kicked out of congress

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Are there any congressional rules about convictions or prison sentences?

Or can he stay there if he wants?

[mahatmakanejeeves]

6. Without checking,

I think members can be stripped of their seniority or removed from committees. Since he's been in office a grand total of nine months, he doesn't have a whole lot of seniority for stripping.

[atreides1]

5. Equal Justice....

....or at least what the elite consider it to be...

[MyNameGoesHere]

7. Although it seems he got off easy

this penalty is in line with what white or affluent people receive in DC. Now the real question is will his fellow teabaggers look the other way whilst preaching morals? I think we know the answer to that already.

[Dopers_Greed]

8. Reminder

This idiot supported drug testing people on food stamps.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

10. Yes, but they're poor, so it's not the same thing.

.

[Angry Dragon]

16. So true

[docgee]

9. Not entirely relevant, but look at the freakish gerrymandering in his district! n/t

[link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FL19_109.PNG|

[Turbineguy]

11. And he won't be able to get food stamps.

Don't forget that.

[Ghost of Tom Joad]

12. Will the media take him down like they did

Anthony Weiner? Probably not.

[Jesus Malverde]

14. Marion Barry might be a more appropriate analogy..nt

[Gothmog]

13. Juanita Jean views this arrest as a way for the US to compete with Canada

http://www.juanitajean.com/2013/11/20/hey-canada-in-your-face/

Proving that the Good Ole US of A won’t get shown up by anyone, Republican congressman Trey Radel of Florida has been arrested on cocaine charges.

Way to go, USA.

In the statement, Radel said he realizes “the disappointment my family, friends and constituents must feel. Believe me, I am disappointed in myself, and I stand ready to face the consequences of my actions.”

The arrest, he said, has a “positive side.” “It offers me an opportunity to seek treatment and counseling,” he said.

Yeah, let’s keep a positive light on the fact that you’re a rightwing Republican making choices about peoples’ lives for them while you’re. on. freekin’. cocaine.

[Berlum]

15. Republicon Family "Values" - as usual.

...hypocrisy is the rock upon which Republiconism is piled.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

18. John Boehner holds fire on cocaine controversy

John Boehner holds fire on cocaine controversy
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/11/john-boehner-cocaine-controversy-trey-radel-100148.html

By JAKE SHERMAN and ANNA PALMER | 11/20/13 3:33 PM EST

John Boehner has made swiftly dealing with bad behavior a signature of his leadership, at times working behind the scenes to orchestrate an exit or levy a punishment on lawmakers caught in ethical or legal mishaps.

But House Republican leaders are not calling for first-term Rep. Trey Radel (R-Fla.) to step down after he pleaded guilty in D.C. Superior Court to possessing cocaine. Radel was swept up in a drug sting in October by an undercover police officer and an “acquaintance” with whom he had done cocaine, according to court documents.

The Florida Republican has not said he will resign while he seeks treatment — and GOP leaders are not pressuring him to give up his seat. He didn’t tell GOP leadership about the sting until Tuesday, according to multiple sources familiar with the incident — roughly three weeks after it occurred.