Rep. Trey Radel has checked into a rehab center in Florida after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine.
"Today, I checked myself into a facility to seek treatment and counseling," the 37-year-old Florida Republican said in a
statement reported by Politico Thursday.
"It is my hope, through this process, I will come out a better man. I will work hard to gain back the trust and support of my constituents, friends, and most importantly, my family."
On Wednesday, the freshman congressman
pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of cocaine possession and received a sentence of a year probation . He was arrested Oct. 29 in Washington, D.C., in a cocaine sting in which he bought 3.5 grams of cocaine from an undercover police officer.
Radel has taken a leave of absence from Congress, and told officials that he does not plan to be back in Washington before the end of the year.
Meanwhile, New York Democratic Rep. Charlie Rangel criticized House Speaker John Boehner for his decision not to pursue ethics charges against Radel,
according to The Hill.
In 2008, Boehner led the effort to bring ethics charges against Rangel when it was discovered he was occupying four rent-stabilized apartments in Harlem.
"If the leadership can find any way to explain this besides politics, I certainly would like to hear it," Rangel said.
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