Politics | Trey Radel Congressman in Coke Bust to Take Leave, Donate Salary Radel's downfall is good news for sheep ranchers By Rob Quinn Posted Nov 21, 2013 12:04 AM CST Copied Rep. Henry "Trey" Radel, R-Fla, is seen on Capitol Hill earlier this year, (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) In a move that a certain Canadian mayor could probably learn a little from, Rep. Trey Radel plans to take a leave of absence—and surrender his pay—while he is being treated for addiction problems. The freshman Republican, sentenced to a year of probation after pleading guilty to cocaine possession, announced as he returned to Florida last night that he was taking a leave of absence for an unspecified time, CNN reports. "I have no excuse for what I have done," he said, apologizing for letting down his country and his family. Radel said he "grew up with a mom who struggled with alcoholism," adding that "I don't want my son to struggle with that." Radel, a Tea Party favorite and former TV anchor, made the most of social media but failed to make much legislative impact during his 10 months in the House, the Washington Post finds. He fought hard to cut the roughly $1 million used to fund the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center, but while the motion narrowly passed, it is now in committee and his downfall boosts the sheep center's chances of survival. Read These Next New Fox star, 23, misses first day after car troubles. Iran's supreme leader makes first public comments since ceasefire. Her blood isn't compatible with anyone else's. Man accused of killing his daughters might be dead. Report an error