May 10, 2008: Vol. 31, No. 19

Rep. Vito Fossella’s admission on Thursday that he has led a double life — simultaneously a devoted family man on Staten Island, and also a congressman with a secret mistress and a 3-year-old daughter in Virginia — made no mention of whether he would resign from office to “heal the deep wounds I have caused.”

But the congressman needs to take the logical final step: he must resign sooner, rather than later.

Regardless of the outcome of Fossella’s legal and personal struggles, voters in Bay Ridge and Staten Island will simply not be served during the final six months of Fossella’s current term unless the six-term congressman resigns immediately.

Consider this: In the week since Fossella got arrested after running a red light for having twice the legal limit of alcohol in his bloodstream, his office has been entirely consumed by the scandal.

Worse, the revelation that Fossella was having a secret affair with Fay — and had successfully kept the existence of their 3-year-old daughter hidden from the media — suggests that there will be much, much more to this scandal, which will turn Fossella from a congressman into a punching bag.

For example, were any of Fossella’s shenanigans underwritten by taxpayers? Were Fossella’s positions on military issues influenced by his sexual relationship with Fay, who was, get this, an Air Force congressional liaison? How much more money will Fossella divert from his campaign contributors to manage the scandal?

And how much time will Fossella divert for damage control — time that is supposed to be reserved for his constituents?

We suggest that Fossella avoid the drawn-out bloodletting and quit right now.

©2008 The Brooklyn Paper