WASHINGTON — Rep. Trey Radel said Friday he’s eager to rejoin Congress when the new House session begins Tuesday, barely six weeks after he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor cocaine possession.
The Republican freshman from Southwest Florida already is reaching out to members and asking for face-to-face meetings in an attempt to rebuild relationships toward the goal of “having a successful year.”
“Undoubtedly, the first thing I have to do is restore a lot of trust and make amends, and only then can I return to what I love doing and what I was elected to do,” he said in a telephone interview.