Former Congressman Charged with New York DWI

John Sweeney stopped for drunk driving in Saratoga County.

Former state Republican congressman John Sweeney was arrested early Sunday morning for suspicion of driving while intoxicated in New York. State Police stopped Sweeney for speeding and booked him on NY DWI charges around 3:30 am. He refused to submit to a breath or blood test. Sweeney posted bail and was released around 6:00 in the morning.

Sweeney was convicted of drunk driving in New York in late 2007. His license was suspended for six months and, as part of his plea deal, he was required to pay a fine, enroll in alcohol education classes and attend a DWI victim impact panel. As this is then his second drunk driving offense, under NY DWI law it will be filed as a felony. Because he refused to have his blood alcohol content tested, the DMV will move to suspend Sweeney’s driving privileges for one year.

Sweeney, 53, served in the New York State Congress between 1999 and 2007. He notoriously appeared drunk at a fraternity party at Union College in 2006, even though the school is not in his district. There have been allegations of spousal abuse and he was part of a federal investigation into his role with a lobbying firm with ties to convicted Washington power broker Jack Abramoff. Sweeney was defeated in his re-election efforts by current Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

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