Drunken driving incidents are like Kryptonite for Congressmen. During the Soviet war with Afghanistan, Rep. Charlie Wilson (D-TX) collided with another driver while drunk and was pursued by D.C. police. He locked himself in his apartment and negotiated with the feds for safe passage to the airport, for an overseas trip in support of the war.

Besides making him a mortal danger to other drivers, the incident played into Wilson’s irresponsible playboy image and nearly ended his career. The loss of Wilson would have imperiled CIA funding for the covert war.

At least Wilson had the self-preservatory instincts to barricade himself in his apartment and whisper to his aides not to let anyone in. Now we’re confronted with the sorry spectacle of Rep. Vito Fossella (R-NY) of Staten Island not only getting nailed for drunk driving, but also being dumb enough to have his mistress bail him out:

… he was arrested last week in the Virginia suburbs of Washington. Police said his blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit…

When Fossella was pulled over, police said he told officers that he was going to see his daughter in the area… “I have had a relationship with Laura Fay, with whom I have a 3-year-old daughter”… It was Fay who got him out of jail after the arrest. [Link]

Fay, who is divorced, lives with her young child in a townhouse about 3 miles from the Seminary Road location where the 43-year-old congressman was pulled over. He reportedly stumbled and struggled with the alphabet during roadside sobriety tests. [Link]

The spectacle at the press conference included the now-common silent appearance by an upset wife. In calling his mistress, Fossella apparently wanted to keep the arrest from his wife and hoped he’d be able to hush it up later. Now word is he’s going to be shunted into retirement by GOP colleagues.

Related: Charlie Wilson’s blowback, Emboldening the errorists, The Dukes of Herat, Om Puri’s trailer