N.Y. congressman admits to affair, fathering child

WASHINGTON - Representative Vito Fossella of New York ran a red light and wrecked his life. A drunken driving arrest last week led to talk of an extramarital affair, and then finally yesterday, an admission of a child from that affair.

"My personal failings and imperfections have caused enormous pain to the people I love and I am truly sorry," said Fossella, a Republican, who lives in his Staten Island, N.Y., district with his wife and their three children.

Fossella is the only Republican member of Congress from New York City and the paternity revelation could lead to the loss of a seat in Congress at a time when the House GOP faces the possibility of a second grim November of election setbacks.

The House minority leader, John Boehner, said he expected Fossella to make decisions about his future in a matter of days, not months.

Fossella's private life came under scrutiny after he was arrested in the Virginia suburbs of Washington after allegedly driving drunk.

When Fossella was pulled over, police said he told officers that he was going to see his daughter in the area. That prompted questions about the daughter's identity.

"I have had a relationship with Laura Fay, with whom I have a 3-year-old daughter," Fossella said in his statement. It was Fay who got him out of jail after the arrest. She is a former Air Force lieutenant colonel and worked for a time as a liaison to Congress.

Fossella said he had no immediate plans to resign. The disclosures are a blow to the career of a lawmaker once seen as a potential candidate for mayor of New York.

"While I understand that there will be many questions, including those about my political future, making any political decisions right now are furthest from my mind. Over the coming weeks and months, I will continue to do my job and I will work hard to heal the deep wounds I have caused," he said.