Trey Radel Not Resigning From Congress Following Rehab Stint

Rep. Trey Radel (R-Fla.), who last month pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, announced Thursday that he will not resign from Congress.

Radel, speaking at a press conference shortly after leaving a rehab facility in Naples, Fla., said he would return to work on Capitol Hill.

"I love what I do, and I'm going to return to what I do," Radel said. "No one will take away my passion when it comes to serving southwest Florida."

Radel said that while he has used cocaine a handful of times, his main substance problem is with alcohol.

"Alcohol does not work for me," the freshman congressman said. "It was selfishly fun, but it became a problem when it led to poor choices, and more than that, missed opportunities."

Radel described his recovery as "underway" and "ongoing."

"I let you down, I let our country down," Radel said. "And again for that, I am sorry."

On November 20, the congressman plead guilty to a misdemeanor cocaine possession charge after purchasing the substance from an undercover cop in Washington, D.C. He was sentenced to one year of probation."