Oates for NewsRep. Vito Fossella at a press conference Friday after he was arrested for drunk driving. The connection between him and Laura Fay, who rescued him from a Virginia jail, remains unclear.
The woman who rescued a boozy Rep. Vito Fossella from a Virginia drunk tank is a retired Air Force colonel who lives just 3 miles from the spot where he was busted for drunken driving, the Daily News has learned.
Col. Laura Fay, 45, and the veteran Staten Island lawmaker are "old friends" who first met when she worked as a congressional liaison officer, according to the consultant Fossella has hired to handle the crisis.
Susan Del Percio told The News that Fay, who lives in Alexandria, Va., befriended Fossella more than five years ago.
Asked whether their relationship was ever romantic, Del Percio said only, "They're old friends."
The spin doctor spoke as Fossella spent a quiet day with no public appearances.
Court documents show Fossella was released into Fay's custody at 7:39 a.m. Thursday, about seven hours after his arrest for running a red light in Alexandria. Police say Fossella's blood-alcohol level was 0.17 - more than double the legal limit.
"He's really, truly humbled and embarrassed by this," said one source familiar with the situation. "He doesn't want to bring anybody else into a matter that was his error."
Fay, who is divorced, lives in a townhouse with her young child about 3 miles from the Seminary Road location where the 43-year-old congressman was pulled over. He reportedly stumbled and struggled with the alphabet during roadside sobriety tests.
He also reportedly lied to the arresting officer, saying he was heading to pick up his daughter, 4-year-old Rowan, claiming she was sick and needed hospitalization.
Fossella, who could face five days in jail, apologized Friday at a Staten Island news conference. He didn't repeat the claim that his daughter was sick. Instead, he said he was heading "to visit some friends in Virginia" when he was stopped.
Fossella spokesman Craig Donner said he couldn't explain the discrepancy between the stories and that he had not seen the arrest report.
Several sources close to Fossella declined to reveal where he'd been drinking, how much alcohol he'd consumed or the names of the friends he says he was driving to see when he was arrested.
A blond woman leaving the garage at Fay's home declined to identify herself or answer questions about Fossella, the lone Republican in New York City's congressional delegation.
"I really have to go," she said, before driving away.
Fossella, who faces a reelection challenge in November, was accompanied by his wife, Mary Pat, who appeared upset, at his mea culpa news conference. The couple has three children.
Fossella's wife, Mary Pat, at her husband's apologetic press appearance Friday.
The former City Council member was elected to Congress in a special 1997 election. He has been reelected five times.
