[10] When this was revealed, his campaign committee created websites and attached them to his opponents' domain names, purportedly for the purpose of disseminating the voting records of the opponents, which were posted on the websites. On a very serious note, I miss a lot of what I did. From there, the journalist went to work for CBS affiliates KHOU based in Houston, WBBM based in Chicago, as well as WINK-TV based in Fort Myers, Florida. Radel, who just published the memoir Democrazy: A True Story of Weird Politics, Money, Madness, and Finger Food, makes for an interesting case study in Americas scandal-industrial complex, which renders personal problems not only political liabilities but also finger-wagging morality plays. Most legislation has no activity after being introduced. He is currently a Fox News Radio Affiliate show host, and president of Vote the R Political Action Committee. One of my biggest faults was not being able to strike any sort of a balance. I dont mean to suggest that you declared that you suffered from alcoholism out of cynical intentions. The House Ethics Committee, you write, requested the name of every illicit drug you had ever used and the date you had used to it. But the constant theme throughout the book is that if I started to get swept up in anything, it was myselfthats one of the most dangerous seductions of Washington, DC. Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Visit us on Instagram, If sponsors had their way, the lyric in Youre a Grand Old Flag would change its description of America to a country where theres never Apr 27, 2023, March 29 was an unusually busy day in Congress for one Arizona Republican. Your daily shot of politics, intertwined with spicy notes o I stay in touch with some Republicans and Democrats I served with, but Im never running for office again. The reality was I was in a dark place in life before, during, and after my bust and my blowup. Forces Fund,[31] which focuses on helping injured soldiers returning home from abroad. Former Rep. Trey Radels (R-Fla.) political downfall may have been due to his 2013 purchase of cocaine from an undercover federal agent. Congressman Paul Ryan. I especially loved trying to find ways to work with Democrats and reach across the aisle. In my book, I poke a lot of fun at myself and the whole process. Those are jokes, but on a serious note, one of the misconceptions is the influence of lobbyists. He earned his high school diploma from Elder High School. If you teach United States government and would like to speak with us about bringing legislative data into your classroom, please reach out! among the lifetime records of representatives serving in Jan 2014. | 2:37 p.m. July 2, 2014. Jason Cherkis. Whether that was being young in my 20s and backpacking around the world, or in my 30s trying to be an entrepreneur, to campaigning and then getting into Congress, I have always had a voracious appetite for life, and thats sometimes been a liability. I miss attempting to do the little I could to help our country. POLITICAL AUTHOR / BOOKS VO / AUDIOBOOK REEL Please help us make GovTrack better address the needs of educators by joining our advisory group. That sounds plausible, though its impossible to fact-check. Freshman Congressman Trey Radel (R-Florida) became the first sitting U.S. representative to be convicted for a cocaine offense this week. If youve visited a bill page on GovTrack.us recently, you may have noticed a new study guide tab located just below the bill title. Our public interest mission means we will never put our service behind a paywall. If Republicans tap into frustrations of younger voters, theres even better news: a more diverse base, beyond age. I want to be very clear about that because I don't want to be the guy that's like, Well, they shouldn't have busted me. I'm not saying that at all. Not unlike Radel, Barry was found guilty of a single count of misdemeanor possession charge. Elaina Plott joined Washingtonian in June 2016 as a staff writer. She currently serves as a TV News Anchor at Fox 4 News based in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Charlotte County where she anchors the evening newscasts. Why are so many of your conservative colleagues so hostile to reducing this country's gargantuan prison population? The first thing I think we need is decriminalization. Former U.S. Rep. Trey Radel, now the host of a 92.5 Fox News radio show in Southwest Florida, said they should. [1], In 2016, Radel started what would become a recurring role as a TV news anchor on the show StartUp, which debuted on the Sony-owned app Crackle and was later purchased and streamed on Netflix. He is an avid user of Twitter. Radel was born in 1976 in Cincinnati, Ohio, the son of Kathleen (Sollinger) and Henry Jude Radel, Jr. Domenico Montanaro, Deputy Political Editor, NBC News, told authorities that he had obtained drugs for Dellums. Amy is currently a Fox 4 anchor. In a 1990 sting operation, Barry was lured to a room at the Vista International Hotel by a former girlfriend working for the FBI, and videotaped smoking crack. We throw away $80 billion a year in this country locking up a huge number of nonviolent offenders. We are also still on Instagram at @govtrack.us posting 60-second video summaries of legislation in Congress. We need to treat the war on drugs not by incarceration but by rehabilitation. Because the lefts there with me. To his great consternation, he also became known as the coke-snorting Congress member who voted to allow the drug testing of food stamp recipients. Photograph by Cherilyn Nocera. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. in 2014 So in the book, I talk about how I had the gift and the curse of time. And while I was reaching at anything, the reality was I stopped drinking for a year, I went to AA meetings, I sought what could help me spiritually and physically. For me, meeting John Boehner was like a basketball fan meetingMichael Jordan. In 2014, Radel was sentenced to probation, which he served. But it was a legislative spat over sheepshearing that ultimately doomed his future in the House of Representatives. The book was reviewed[5] by HuffPost as "a brutally honest, outrageous memoir" which exposes "how the Washington sausage really gets made. Along with former New York Governor George Pataki, Radel co-authored Beyond the Great Divide[6]: How a Nation Became a Neighborhood. Get the recap of top opinion commentary and original content throughout the week. On March 28, 2017, Blue Rider Press, an imprint of the Random House company, released Radels book, Democrazy,[4] a True Story of Weird Politics, Money, Madness, and Finger Food. And I, as a strong believer in more power in the states I believe that whether it's Colorado that wants to legalize marijuana or the state of Washington or the state of Florida that now has voted to legalize medical marijuana I believe states should make those types of choices, and that's something that I still believe in today. 1135, H.R. Radel resigns from House seat. Radel is a former TV anchor and conservative radio host who grew up in Cincinnati as the son of a funeral-home director. But before I get to that, I'll tell you that there are names Ill never say that were very supportive and called me and reached out to me for days and weeks after my blowup. From there, Trey went to further his studies at Loyola University Chicago. This starts with tapping into the anger of Millennials and Gen Z, and doing so with provocative messaging, laced with biting humor. Any person that says they are either a fiscal conservative or [a] social conservative and says that we should drug-test food stamp recipients, theyre not looking at the facts or the figures. Was I an alcoholic? [29][30] Radel is also fluent in Spanish. Kiss Paul Stanley Has 'Thoughts' About Parents Who Support Kids Gender Identities We chatted with him about his post-scandal life. Please join our advisory group to let us know what more we can do. The couple has three children together. Theyre listening to idiot politicians in Washington. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. He earns an average salary of $78,285 per year. Thus three years later, Radel is back withDemocrazy: A True Story of Weird Politics, Money, Madness, & Finger Food,in which he details boozy dinners with McCarthy, splendorous fundraisers backslapping withJohn Boehner,and his wifes introduction to the Congressional Clubthe organization for House and Senate spouses supplied a leaflet on avoiding suicide. On a more fun note, I do miss the restaurants. She had been working at the station since joining it in 2005. Shifting gears: Reportedly, the feds were able to bust you because your dealer told on you after being arrested. She previously covered Congress for National Review. After seeking treatment and attempting to hang on to his seat, he resigned under heavy pressure the following January. He always stopped short of definitively denying his use, preferring dodges like: When I was young and irresponsible, I was young and irresponsible., Former Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah PalinIn a salacious biography published by Joe McGinniss, a friend of Palins recalls a snowmachine trip with her prior to her election as governor of Alaska, in which the party turned over a 55 gallon oil drum and we were all doing cocaine lines off the top of the drum. Palins husband Todd blasted McGinnis for trafficking innuendo and falsehoods., Former Virginia Governor and Senator Chuck RobbRobbs Senate tenure in the early 1990s was hampered by allegations that he had attended coke-fueled parties in Virginia Beach during his term as governor, and that Robb himself had used the drug. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. Radel, a Republican from Fort Myers, won the election for the 19th District. The twin daughters were born in 2018. Part of HuffPost Politics. You should go into public relations or crisis management with the way you just put that. or redistributed. The same thing is happening with drugs today: We have a black market, and we have violence that has wreaked havoc decade to decade, from South America then north into Mexico. Everybody gets together and shouts at each other, and then we all raise our handguns that were donated to us by the NRA and we leave the room. It sucked. Radel And that's bullshit. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Charlotte-Lee-Collier. But somehow a few people believe in Washington that should not be tolerated. I never wanted to label myself that. I hope people will walk away from it and say, Hey, I was entertained, I laughed my ass off, and it was really cool to learn how the sausage gets made in Washington.. Currently, Trey Radel works as a Radio Host at Sun Broadcasting. DEMOCRATIC PARTY'S MANY DISASTERS OFFER US A RARE CHANCE TO CREATE AN AMERICAN MAJORITY. Radel was heavily favored to win because 19th has long been reckoned as one of the most Republican districts in Florida. Decriminalization would definitely be a step forward. But it was also cathartic. Radel's show airs on the Florida-based station WFSX-FM, a FOX News Radio affiliate. Why Are So Many Democrats Backing an Accused Christian Nationalist? Unlike Radel, Barry was sentenced to six months in federal prison. Looking back, do you think the Republican approach at that time was a good one? While the sting operation took place Oct. 29, Radel was not arrested. [18][22][23] He had not voted in Congress after November 15, 2013 in the wake of the conviction. Radel began his career as a journalist, working as both an anchor and a reporter. But DCs bustle proved too much for the 37-year-old former TV journalisthe was still in his first term when he was busted for buying cocaine from an undercover officer outside Circa in Dupont Circle. Why was it important for you to write this book? took no further action (Nov. 17, 1983), John Apperson (aide to Rep. Ronald Dellums) (1983), but also: Preliminary Inquiry voted (March 15, 1983); Special Counsel investigated and found no basis for charges; Comm. I don't think compromise should be a dirty, filthy word. While youre there, please rate and review our show. And what I voted was for a 1,000-page-plus farm bill. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. Get out. He launched his career as a journalist by working as an anchor and a reporter. No. There were two House staffers involved in the 1983 congressional page scandal, who did plead guilty to two federal misdemeanors. Representative for 0. By . Robert Yesh, who, in 1983, was the Majority Assistant Cloakroom manager, and James Beattie, who was with the Doorkeeper's Office, were accused of cocaine and marijuana use -- Yesh, specifically with pages. This moment presents a rare historical opportunity for the Republican Party to redefine Democrats, revolutionize their own brand, and radically change the trajectory of our nation for generations, culturally and politically. Im having a problem with a government agency, need legal help, want to schedule a meeting or White House tour, or have another question. 30 (113th): Recognizing the 65th anniversary of the independence of the State of Israel. Blow by Blow: 10 Politicians Linked to Cocaine, Satan Fired Tucker Carlson, Right-Wing Christians Say, Biden Takes Aim at MAGA Extremists in 2024 Announcement Vid, Theyre Hunting Nazis. But it seems that people are more likely to be sympathetic if you explain your struggles as alcoholism, that you suffer from a disease, rather than you telling a more complicated truth: Ive been working too hard, Congress is frustrating, I haven't been exercising, I started drinking too much, and at some point I decided that cocaine might be fun.. The past three years of heavy-handed, blue state COVID-19 measures exposed the Democrat Party for what it is: an organization hellbent on total control. Or both? What advice do you have for others going through A fall from grace? Was I someone who struggled? I do enjoy a beer here and there. Choose from the options above to find the right way to contact Radel. More and More Women Are Paying Alimony to Failure-to-Launch Ex-Husbands. It might have even set a record. A year later, Trey moved to afternoon drive time. Washington DCs 500 Most Influential People, Everything You Missed at Last Nights White House State Dinner, Clarence Thomass Billionaire Benefactor Collects Hitler Artifacts, TikTokers Came to Capitol Hill to Speak Out Against a Possible App Ban, You Can Donate Books to Sick Kids Through This Book Drive, DCs Most Adventurous Record Store Just Opened in Chevy Chase, Registration for the Bay Bridge Run Opens at Noon Today, Inside Jackie Kennedys Intriguing Pre-JFK Life, You Might Spot These Celebs Around DC This Weekend, A Black Bear Has Been Rummaging Through Trash Cans in Kensington, How the M3 Rock Fest Saved 80s Hair Metal, Folger Shakespeare Library Will Reopen in November, Meet the 2023 Washington Women in Journalism Award Winners. Radel decided to run in the open seat, which had been renumbered as the 19th District. Menu. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Trending Henry Jude Radel III (born April 20, 1976) is an American radio personality, political commentator, author, actor, and former member of the United States House of Representatives. Dorcas What was the situation you were in, and how did you get there? I campaigned in '12, was sworn in '13. Radel was sentenced to probation, which he served. In 2005, Radel bought the Naples Journal, a community newspaper that he later sold to the E.W. Furthermore, President Trump exposed cracks in the traditionally solid Democratic African American vote. All rights reserved. Republicans have to fight back now, reminding America what Democrats did, are doing, and how conservative policy can save our country. Controversy occurred when it was discovered that the campaign committee "Friends of Trey Radel, Inc." had purchased his opponents' domain names nearly a year before he announced he was going to run for office. Thank you so much. ", Former President Bill Clinton also famously claimed that when he was in England, he "experimented" with marijuana "a time or two, and didn't like it, and didn't inhale and never tried it again.". But I believe the war on drugs is also one of the reasons that we have such animosity between law enforcement and various communities around the United States today. Cocaine wasn't the only thing that brought down former Rep. Trey Radel. Amy has been working at the station since Jul 2014. According to ZoomInfo records, Trey Radel's professional experience began in 2007. He knew the committee was not going to let his bust go, and his political career was over. By joining our advisory group, you can help us make GovTrack more useful and engaging to young voters like you. I don't know if I would put the context that alcohol stemmed from troubles. Well be in touch. [9] The district is located in Southwest Florida and includes Fort Myers, Naples and Cape Coral. Sam Stein. First of all, yes. The travel, the demand for your time. Most especially for a crime that has only hurt themselves. Florida Congressman Trey Radel appears to be in rare company. Public Lands and Natural Resources (33%). Candidate Confessional is produced by Zach Young. Here's a history of drugs in Congress, per the Ethics Committee report: Rep. Frederick W. Richmond (NY) (1982) - Pleaded guilty to felony charge of evading federal taxes, two misdemeanors involving a government contract, and misdemeanor possession of marijuana (Aug. 25, 1982), Majority Assistant Cloakroom Manager Robert Yesh (1983) - Sold and used cocaine; used marijuana and cocaine with House pages - Preliminary Inquiry voted (Dec. 14, 1982) - pleaded guilty to two federal misdemeanors (March 9, 1983), James Beattie (Doorkeeper's Office) (1983) - Sold and used cocaine - Preliminary Inquiry (date not made public) - pleaded guiltyto two federal misdemeanors (July 28, 1983), Majority Chief Page James C. Howarth (1983) - Sexual relationship with a 17-year old female House page who was under his direct supervision[R. 43(1)], used cocaine, and preferential treatment of employee (allowed page to miss work). The only guy ever that I had ever pissed off. Since then, he has been hosting this time slot. There's politics and politics. Public Opinion Strategies partner George Nassar and Schoen Cooperman Research CEO Carly Cooperman debate former President Obama's optimism ahead of the 2022 midterms despite numerous issues facing the Democratic Party. He is currently a Fox News Radio Affiliate show host, and president of Vote the R Political . "Lets Go Brandon Isnt About Biden," is our newly released video where we illustrate and more importantly, aim to influence a generational political shift in an aggressive and at times, hilarious way. Revisiting that night was tough. Was 3 rd most absent in votes compared to House Freshmen. I do, I do. You can also contribute via. Remember Trey Radel? Wanya Morris was a teammate with Trey Smith at Tennessee before transferring to Oklahoma. What I was getting at is: You've got to take steps with society, right? Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. An assistant manager of the House Democratic cloakroom testified to a grand jury that hed sold coke to Dellums. See full analysis methodology. [1], Radel, along with his wife, founded a nonprofit organization called the U.S. You go through the regrets again, the constant questioning. 2023 Rolling Stone, LLC. What Is Trey Radel Doing Now Currently, Trey hosts a show that airs on the Florida-based FOX News Radio affiliate, WFSX-FM. Obviously it didnt feel good. Former Astronaut and then-Ohio Sen. John Glenn joked at a fundraiser: ''I went to a colleague and asked if I could borrow some of his lines. When you take someone and arrest them and throw them in jail or prison for whatever amount of time, youve essentially imprisoned them for life. 2079 (113th): Expediting Veterans Benefits Act, H.R. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Roy Wood Jr. I was playing hard and working harder. Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost? One thing you communicate is how easy it is, as a freshman congressman, to get swept up in the charms of, say, nights at the Capital Grille and the Capitol Hill Club and this belief that youre invincible. It was everything. I never wanted to box myself in, because I believe there are some areas where I have some very strong disagreements with the Republican Party, especially foreign policy and some domestic policy. I have sympathy and empathy. the representative for Floridas 19th congressional district [17], On October 29, 2013, Radel was arrested in the District of Columbia after attempting to buy 3.5 grams of cocaine from an undercover federal officer. With alcohol for example, it was made illegal for a short time. I want to urge Radel to take an action on a bill. To push that a step further: Should cocaine be legal? . Radel is far from the first politician to be linked to the drug and certainly not the highest ranking. [7] He also played the lead, starring as a detective, in the series Truth is Stranger than Florida on the Investigation Discovery network. When I said that, I was in the darkest period of my life. Drug use in Congress became a punch line back then. . [18][19] Less than a month later, Radel pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of possession of cocaine and was sentenced to one year of supervised probation.[20]. BUT Ethics Committee found: Special Counsel investigated and found no basis for SAV; Comm. Who Is Trey Radel Married To Trey is married to a Fox 4 anchor called Amy Wegmann. Could I have gotten over this scandal and been reelected? So was it that Congress and being a Congress member and being in DC was too much fun? I loved the interaction with people. Support our mission and help keep Vox free for all by making a financial contribution to Vox today. The whole concept that somehow a lobbyist buying you an overpriced steak at the Palm is going to change a vote is just silly. You can try your luck by visiting Radels website. Here's the biggest problem, though. Radel is first member of Congress convicted for cocaine. Radel wanted to wait, hoping his arrest would blow over and that his show of contrition would make a difference. You could have put Nancy Pelosi on there and think that she would have been like, in her cold calculating monotone voice, Trey Radel is a good man. Or worse, we put people in who are inherently good nonviolent offenders and they come out hardened violent criminals. Trey Radel burned a bridge early in his career, and it came back to haunt him when he was embroiled in scandal. 1947 (113th): Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013, H.R. Radel is shown as a purple triangle in our ideology-leadership chart below. the median of 2.5% I took those issues and conversations very seriously. And unless we address our mandatory spending today, the people who are going to pay the biggest price are senior citizens and poor people. And that was time for me to figure out not only who the hell I was but what the hell I was. newsletter, Confessions of a congressman: 9 secrets from the inside. This is part of a new project to develop better tools for bringing real-time legislative data into the classroom. Theres no doubt I made some pretty piss-poor choices. I cited the Justice Safety Valve Act, where I was one of very few Republicans to work with Democrats on the war on drugs. Once I resigned, or very close to that time of my resignation, there was a point where I completely tuned out of the news. This is an area where I have a lot of agreement and in fact, when I was in Congress, [I] worked with Democrats. Dellums expressly denied the charges. So that's number one. Each dot was a member of the House of Representatives Henry Jude Radel III (born April 20, 1976) is an American radio personality, political commentator, author, actor, and former member of the United States House of Representatives. Instead, she said she would focus on her husband, Trey Radel's, campaign for the District 19 congressional seat. And only then will we begin to feel the true cost of our deficit and our debt, and that cost is going to come. "Stand Up to the Man," "Fight the Power," "Rage Against the Machine" liberals are all dead, replaced with insane progressive tyrants. HuffPost's top politics stories, straight to your inbox. From Jan 2013 to Jan 2014, Radel missed 62 of 664 roll call votes, which is 9.3%. Apr 26, 2023, But presidents still wouldnt be able to move their legal cases to the shows The Peoples Court or Divorce Court. By Business Observer Staff. 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 both of them.". Armed Forces and National Security (33%) He resigned shortly thereafter. I was doing everything at 1,000 miles an hour every day. An imprint of the Random House company called Blue Rider Press released Treys book titled Democrazy, a True Story of Weird Politics, Money, Madness, and Finger Food on March 28, 2017,HuffPost reviewed the book as a brutally honest, outrageous memoir. he added that the book exposes how the Washington sausage really gets made. Trey co-authored a book with former New York Governor George Pataki titled Beyond the Great Divide: How a Nation Became a Neighborhood. | View Cosponsors . Robb denied the allegations categorically., Former Rep. Ron DellumsRadel isnt the first House member to be linked to cocaine use. Trey Radel Work Experience and Education. After your bust, you stated, "I struggle with the disease of alcoholism, and this led to an extremely irresponsible choice. Astoundingly (or as expected), the Democrats foot soldiers in the media are rewriting history, favorable to progressives. And I should have right away. Unsurprisingly, I do have some questions about the food stamp vote. Breaks Down His Killer White House Correspondents Dinner Set Republican businessman Curt Clawson won the special general election held on June 24, 2014 to replace him. Trey Radel was born on 20 April 1976 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The 37-year-old Radel pleaded guilty to misdemeanor possession charges, following from his attempt to score about 3.5 grams of coke for $250 from an undercover cop in late October. Trey Radel, 37, told his father he had been arrested. Florida Congressman Trey Radel exits D.C. Superior court after pleading guilty to cocaine possession. Senator Connie Mack III, and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Please enter a valid email and try again. 297 (113th): Childrens Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2013, H.R. Radel completed all conditions of his probation in October 2014, and he successfully petitioned the court to expunge his criminal record. In two years, Gen Z and Millennials were put through their "once-in-a-lifetime crisis" two or three or twenty times. But when he got down to the floor of the House, a fellow Republican, Rep. Mike Conaway of Texas, quickly started whipping against it, admonishing the Floridian for thinking that sheepshearing was beneath him. Look for a contact form on Rep. Trey Radels website to express your opinion. We hope to enable educators to build lesson plans centered around any bill or vote in Congress, even those as recent as yesterday. Radel represented Florida's 19th congressional district from January 3, 2013 through January 27, 2014, sworn into the 113th United States Congress. However, he left the station in 2009 and went to join WFSX-FM. Former Rep. Trey Radels (R-Fla.) political downfall may have been due to his 2013. 150 (113th): Congratulating the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles for becoming the first 15 . For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. The first-term Republican, who pleaded guilty Wednesday to drug charges in Washington, DC, appears to be the only member of Congress to have ever been convicted for cocaine use while in office, according a House Ethics Committee report detailing conducted cases in the chamber. Okay, I got it. Earlier this summer, GOP Rep. Trey Radel sat down with National Journal in his Capitol Hill office to talk about his time with the improv comedy school Second City, his Valentine's Day dinner with Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and the new Daft Punk album. Join 10 million other Americans using GovTrack to learn about and contact your representative and senators and track what Congress is doing each day.