Fla. Rep. Pleads Guilty to Coke Charges

Congressman Henry "Trey" Radel pleaded guilty to cocaine possession today, but will avoid jail time. A DC Superior Court judge sentenced the freshman Republican from Florida to one year of probation, and ordered him to receive drug treatment in his home state, the Washington Post reports. Radel had already admitted his guilt in a public apology. DC police busted him after he bought 3.5 grams of cocaine from an undercover agent. His dealer, arrested in another case, had told police Radel was a customer, the AP reports.

A spokesman for John Boehner said Radel's situation would be decided in the courts, and is "between Representative Radel, his family, and his constituents." But not entirely: The House Ethics Committee is required to launch an investigation. Radel has been casting votes in recent weeks, including the day after he bought the cocaine. Democrats are drawing attention to a September vote in which Radel backed a bill allowing states to drug test food stamp recipients, much as Radel's home state tests welfare recipients, the Huffington Post reports.