U.S. Rep. Trey Radel, R-Fla., caused a commotion after word got out that he had been arrested in Washington, D.C., at the end of October for possession of cocaine.
Radel was charged with misdemeanor possession of cocaine in D.C. Superior Court on Tuesday. He pleaded guilty on Wednesday and was sentenced to one year of probation.
Radel could have faced a maximum of 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
Shortly after news of his arrest hit, Radel issued a statement apologizing for his actions.
"I'm profoundly sorry to let down my family, particularly my wife and son, and the people of Southwest Florida," Radel said. "I struggle with the disease of alcoholism, and this led to an extremely irresponsible choice. As the father of a young son and a husband to a loving wife, I need to get help so I can be a better man for both of them.
"This unfortunate event does have a positive side, he said. It offers me an opportunity to seek treatment and counseling. I know I have a problem and will do whatever is necessary to overcome it, hopefully setting an example for others struggling with this disease."
Although Radel said he needed help, he did not mention resigning from the House in his statement. But his arrest could ultimately prove problematic for Radel, who has been in office for less than a year.
If Radel decides to leave his position in the House, Florida would have another special election on its hands, this time for the heavily Republican 19th Congressional District, which covers Fort Myers to Marco Island.
Political analysts have identified two Republicans in particular who could become viable candidates to replace Radel: Senate Majority Leader Lizbeth Benacquisto and Matt Caldwell.
Benacquisto has made a quick rise to the top since being elected to the Senate in 2010. The Fort Myers Republican wields a substantial amount of political power in her position as majority leader. Shes also a fundraising powerhouse -- she raised almost $750,000 in her 2012 re-election campaign alone.
On top of that, Benacquisto is popular in her district -- she took 62 percent of the vote in her bid for re-election last year.
If Benacquisto entered the race, shed bring her strong fundraising network and strong conservative credentials with her.
Another front-runner to succeed Radel could be Rep. Matt Caldwell, R-Lehigh Acres. Elected in 2010, Caldwell has emerged as a leader of a dynamic group of young conservatives in the Florida House. Caldwell spearheaded the complex Everglades restoration bill during the 2013 legislative session, successfully bringing environmental and agricultural interests together, hammering out an agreement that many thought was impossible. Caldwell is a grassroots campaigner who could prove to be a force to be reckoned with in a special election.
An additional candidate many liberal Republicans and Democrats would like to see run for the seat could be former Lee County Commissioner Ray Judah. Judah served as commissioner for 24 years until he was defeated in 2012 by former Fort Myers Beach Mayor Larry Kiker.
All eyes are now on Radel to determine the fate of CD 19 in the House. Although hes made no mentions of leaving his post, it seems unlikely that Radel can maintain the support of such a conservative district after his run-in with the law. Should Radel resign, Gov. Rick Scott would be forced to call yet another special election, which would likely happen in April or May.
Reach Tampa-based reporter Allison Nielsen at Allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter at @AllisonNielsen.
