Ex-GOP Rep. Sweeney Arrested Again On D.W.I. Charge

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.

As part of the plea, Mr. Sweeney's license was suspended for six months, he was fined $1,000, and he was required to attend a meeting of a victim's impact panel and classes for those convicted of drunken driving.

Mr. Sweeney, a Republican, lost his Congressional seat to Kirsten E. Gillibrand, a Democrat, in 2006, amid allegations of spousal abuse. Ms. Gillibrand replaced Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Senate in January. During the campaign, Mr. Sweeney was criticized after photographs were published of him attending a late-night fraternity party outside his Congressional district.

Mr. Sweeney has also been part of a federal investigation for his dealings with the lobbying firm Powers & Company and its possible ties to Jack Abramoff. Mr. Abramoff, once a top Republican lobbyist and power broker in Washington, is serving a federal prison sentence after being convicted on corruption charges.

Comments

[planetjeffy]

02:09 PM on 04/06/2009

Now this is a Republic dude I really like. Partying with frat boys, drivin with a buzz on at 3:30am and getting caught twice.

[christopherflynn]

03:07 PM on 04/06/2009

sounds like presidential material to me....

[filo]

02:06 PM on 04/06/2009

At this rate jails are going to need a special GOP annex.

[walladem]

12:44 PM on 04/06/2009

go to your local pharmacy, buy an alcohol detector, have a couple of drinks then test. our roads are full of persons impaired. you will be shocked at how little it takes. People need to be much more aware of how little it takes to get a dwi. Lack of sleep or prescription meds also make it so.

[Prakosh]

12:55 PM on 04/06/2009

Read the story, he didn't have .08 he had .18--huge difference--in fact it is the difference between misdemeanor and felony DWI. His first arrest was for felony DWI as well but he got it reduced to a misdemeanor charge because he was a Congressman, probably. You are missing the point. The point is that most people who are at .08 are not driving erratically enough to be stopped by the police and checked for drinking and driving in the first place.

[wdw505]

01:25 PM on 04/06/2009

because most people at that level are not drunk.......or act impaired

[Prakosh]

12:43 PM on 04/06/2009

The party that keeps on giving. "He was once a county coordinator for STOP-DUI, a program that aims to reduce alcohol- and drug-related crashes." and we won't dare say anything about high-pocrisy, because when you are a Republican everything is OK!

[washlib]

01:46 PM on 04/06/2009

isnt republican latin for hypocrit?

[wdw505]

02:51 PM on 04/06/2009

that's good cause i'm a conservative

[260Parkway]

12:17 PM on 04/06/2009

Another fine example of Republiclan family values. NOT!

[walladem]

12:10 PM on 04/06/2009

This IS very a dangerous thing to drink and drive,please do not condemn nor make fun, do you make fun of cancer or heart disease. It is serious and he probably needs to address the issue of alcohol in his life. Alcohol is no longer enhancing his quality of life. This could happen to many of us...08 is NOT that high you all would be surprised at how a couple of drinks will get you there.. if they checked everyone who left a restaurant or bar - bingo! Have to wonder why are there parking lots in front of restaurants and drinking establishments if drinking and driving is illegal. The liqueur lobby IS alive and well. Spend some time in a DMV office and you will be sick at those who "walk" out of there with a license.

[Prakosh]

12:51 PM on 04/06/2009

He didn't have .08 he had .18--that's nearly falling down, certainly staggeringly, drunk.

And what is with this "alcohol in his life" rhetoric--the guy has a drinking problem--a serious drinking problem. 2 DUIs in 18 months is a serious drinking problem. It has nothing whatever to do with who the DMV is giving drivers licenses to. This guy was a US Representative!

[wdw505]

01:28 PM on 04/06/2009

this arrest was not tested.........therefor you don't know what level he was at........

[DMEEPhD]

11:55 AM on 04/06/2009

If I was a Rethuglican, I'd be drinking too!

[lvdragonlady]

11:52 AM on 04/06/2009

Once again, the GOP thinks they are above the law.

[Genep34]

11:45 AM on 04/06/2009

Just what the republic party needs is more drunks.

[zugswang]

11:27 AM on 04/06/2009

A former Rensselaer County DWI Coordinator. W called him "Congressman Buttkicker" for his work preventing the 3rd recount in Dade County. He was the "Best of the Worst". This DWI comes at a time when the seat he lost (NY 20) is the focus of attention.

[jsgaetano]

11:11 AM on 04/06/2009

He needs to resign. He obviously doesn't uphold those good Christian conservative values the far right is always righteously droning on and on about.

Or does he also qualify for the Vitter exemption?

[wdw505]

11:19 AM on 04/06/2009

what are you babbling about.........i consider myself conservative yet i am not religious at all

[jsgaetano]

02:03 PM on 04/06/2009

Heathen.

[christopherflynn]

03:11 PM on 04/06/2009

conservative might be acceptable...but religious definitely isn't... :)

[Ramonne]

11:02 AM on 04/06/2009

For those not knowing this person it was the fourth paragraph before one could
tell what state this man is from.

[hopefulinflorida]

10:37 AM on 04/06/2009

I wonder if his license is taken away for 5 years and has to have a blowing device for 2 years and supervised driving for 2 years? plus a year of probation, 6 months in jail or residential rehab? After one year a hardship license to go to work, church or doctors? Do the usual rules apply to him t oo?

[wdw505]

10:43 AM on 04/06/2009

no of course not

[christopherflynn]

03:13 PM on 04/06/2009

if you're a politician, you are above the rules....just look at bush/cheney et al...

[jerryfromcalifornia]

10:31 AM on 04/06/2009

Just another Frat boy who never grew up.............Jail time I hope.

[Petey131]

10:23 AM on 04/06/2009

Ahhhhh, Sweeney still living those christian values.