The chairman of Florida’s state Republican Party on Monday called for Rep. Trey Radel (R-FL) to resign after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of cocaine possession.
“The people of Florida’s 19th Congressional District need a Congressman who is 100 percent focused on the needs of Southwest Florida,” Chairman Lenny Curry said in a news release, as quoted by NBC News. “Therefore, Congressman Radel should step down and focus his attention on rehabilitation and his family.”
The Collier County Republican Executive Committee also called on Radel to resign in a news release and stated the group would not support him in future elections, according to NBC News.
The state’s GOP chairman joins the Florida Democratic Party in calling for Radel’s resignation, but House leadership has not asked Radel to step down. An aide to House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) said the speaker would leave the matter up to the congressman, his family and his constituents.
Radel announced Wednesday that he would take a leave of absence from Congress and seek treatment.
