Ex-Congressman Sweeney Is Arrested on D.W.I. Charge

[Rhiannon12866]

Source: The New York Times

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: April 5, 2009

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Former Congressman John E. Sweeney was arrested early Sunday on charges of driving while intoxicated, his second arrest in less than 18 months.

The State Police stopped Mr. Sweeney, 53, for speeding about 3:30 a.m. Sunday on Route 9 in Clifton Park. He refused sobriety tests and was charged with felony driving while intoxicated.

He posted bail and was released. His next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday. A telephone number for him could not be found, and a call to his lawyer was not immediately returned.

In November 2007, Mr. Sweeney pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of misdemeanor drunken driving. The State Police said at the time that his blood alcohol level was measured at 0.18; in New York the legal limit is 0.08. He was once a county coordinator for STOP-DUI, a program that aims to reduce alcohol- and drug-related crashes.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/06/nyregion/06sweeney.html?ref=global-home

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How much lower can this guy sink? :eyes:

[Lavender Brown]

1. AGAIN?

:eyes:

[Rhiannon12866]

4. Yup, again... x(

Sweeney arrested for DWI - again

CLIFTON PARK - Former U.S. Rep. John Sweeney was arrested early Sunday morning and charged with DWI for the second time in less than 18 months, police said.

State troopers initially pulled Sweeney over at 3:30 a.m. on Route 9 in Clifton Park for speeding, police said. Sweeney, 53, refused sobriety testing and was processed and charged, they said.

Because of his previous 2007 DWI conviction, Sunday's charge is a felony for the former Rensselaer County STOP-DWI coordinator, who held the currently-up-in-the-air 20th Congressional district seat for eight years before being unseated by now Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in 2006.

On Nov. 11, 2007, Sweeney was pulled over while swerving on the Northway and found to have a BAC of .18, more than twice the legal limit. An unidentified 24-year-old female was in his BMW with him and it was reported she was partially on his lap.

http://www.troyrecord.com/articles/2009/04/05/news/doc49d908c0cbb3b422123159.txt

[Lavender Brown]

5. He needs to get help or get off the road

My whole family is in CP. :grr:

[Rhiannon12866]

9. I certainly agree with you. The man is clearly a danger to anyone on the road...

(at 3am ;) )

However, this charge is serious business, according to the news. He's in deep doo-doo, this time around, with his record. :eyes:

[spag68]

10. Sweeny

He's going to get help alright, including three hots and a cot.

[davidinalameda]

2. I thought this was the repug from Long Island

who had two families or whatever

this guy needs to go into rehab and fast before he kills someone or himself

[Rhiannon12866]

7. Well, he has had more than one wife, though not at one time...

His last wife accused him of domestic abuse, but that's not the only time he's been in trouble and it just seems to get worse... x(

BTW, on "Hardball" last week, the Democratic pundit called Sweeney a wife-beater, but Tweety said that was "alleged," to which the Dem replied that his wife had said so... His last campaign was also marred by accusations of corruption and he was allegedly caught partying with under aged frat boys. :eyes:

He represented NY District 20, the one where we just had a "special election" for this very seat. It was once said Sweeney could have the job for life, if he wanted it, but he was ousted in 2006 by first-timer Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat, who was just appointed Senator from NY to replace Hillary Clinton. :-)

[BeyondGeography]

3. Take.the.keys.away.

[Idealism]

6. This part of the article is odd:

"During the campaign, Mr. Sweeney was criticized after photographs were published of him attending a late-night fraternity party outside his Congressional district."

So would a late-night fraternity party inside his Congressional district be acceptable to be published during the campaign?

[Rhiannon12866]

8. That's a damn good question, LOL.

But the district (NY District 20) is gerrymandered to avoid Albany which is strongly Democratic. We just had a "special election" to replace Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, who beat Sweeney in 2006 and was reelected by a landslide in November. She was appointed Senator from NY to replace Hillary Clinton, so her seat is now vacant. :-)

I worked on the campaign for Scott Murphy, the Democratic candidate from my hometown. His Republican opponent was Jim Tedisco, who doesn't even live in the district. We're waiting for the absentee ballots to be counted, since it's currently a "dead heat." *fingers crossed* :-(


The infamous photo... ;)


on edit: Yikes! There are a whole lot more frat party pix! The previous one is the one that made the news, and my SO alerted the Gillibrand campaign about the story, e-mailed them the pic... :D

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/docs/sweeney-pics/

[No Passaran]

11. How about we stop this negativity

Alcoholism is a disease. I'm sure majority of us have at least one family member battling it on a daily basis. I for one would just hope he gets help before it's too late.

[Lavender Brown]

12. You're right

Politics aside, I hope he gets better.

[No Passaran]

13. thank you Lavender

We're not all cruel after all :)

[JerseygirlCT]

15. Actually, I do hope this is taken seriously, but you're right, it's not funny

And someone with a problem who continues to drive DOES need to be taken off the roads - maybe forever after a couple of arrests...

But yes, other than not permitting him to possibly harm or kill someone else, the guy needs treatment.

[Rhiannon12866]

18. I agree with you, but if he'd been your representative, you might not be so understanding.

This is far from the first time Sweeney's been charged with this, not to mention allegations of domestic violence and corruption. He seems to feel that his behavior should be excused because of his (former) position. This is what finally sunk him at the polls, despite running in a very red district.

I am a member of AA, so I do understand, but Mr. Sweeney is not. He has offered to go to rehab, this time around, but it appears to me that he's only doing it to get out of trouble. Again. :-(

[ardvark]

14. He was once a county coordinator for STOP-DUI, - classic

wonder if he began each meeting with 'STOP ME BEFORE I DUI AGAIN'

[Summermoondancer]

16. What is it with congresscritters and booze

they seem to all have a penchant for booze and then driving afterwards...regardless of party affiliation.

[TooRaLoo]

17. JEEEEEEEZ. nt