New York has had its share of members of Congress who’ve faced legal, ethical, and other problems.
Since the birth of the nation, many fine, upstanding citizens of New York have served in the U.S. House of Representatives. But even some of the finest, most upstanding representatives from New York have proved far too human.
Several representatives during the past few years have exemplified this; Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner is only the latest. Below are some of the most recent New York congressmen who’ve found themselves in ethical or legal trouble — or a good, old-fashioned sex scandal.
![<p><strong>Name:</strong> John Sweeney
<br /><strong>Number of terms served in the House:</strong> 4
<br /><strong>Party:</strong> Republican
<br /><strong>Why notable:</strong> Sweeney’s 2006 reelection race against KirstenGillibrand, who was later appointed to fill a vacant U.S. Senate seat, was marred when the Albany Times Union reported that Sweeney had failed to reveal who paid for a 2001 trip to a Pacific island with an associate of convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, a possible violation of House rules. Also not helping Sweeney in his ultimately unsuccessful reelection campaign was a Time Union article stating that Sweeny’s wife had called police to report that he had “grabbed [her] by the neck and pushed [her] around the house.” Both Sweeney and his wife said that while police were called, the police report describing the incident was a fake. “At no time did I need to be protected from John,” his wife said in a conference call. Separately, he was also criticized after photographs were published of him during the campaign attending a late-night college fraternity party.
<br /><strong>Also … </strong>After leaving Congress, Sweeney was arrested in 2009 in New York and charged with driving while intoxicated.
</p> - David S. Holloway/Getty Images](http://cdn-media.nationaljournal.com/?controllerName=image&action=get&id=8761&format=gallery)
Get the latest news and analysis delivered to your inbox. Sign up for National Journal's morning alert, Wake-Up Call, and afternoon newsletter, The Edge. Subscribe here.
Leave A Comment