Fla. rep charged with cocaine possession

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

Florida Rep. Henry “Trey” Radel has been charged with cocaine possession after what a federal law- enforcement official described Tuesday as a “buy and bust” operation.

In a statement expressing regret, the 37-year-old Republican freshman lawmaker said he struggles with alcoholism and intends to seek treatment and counseling. Radel made no mention of his political future but said he had made an “extremely irresponsible choice” and had let down his family and his constituents.

He was scheduled to appear this morning in District of Columbia Superior Court.

A one-sentence charging document did not add any details about the allegations. A Drug Enforcement Administration official said Radel purportedly bought cocaine from an undercover agent in Washington’s Dupont Circle neighborhood Oct. 29. Later that night, federal authorities went to his apartment and informed him that he would be facing criminal charges related to his purchase of cocaine.