OMERTA ON VITO 'BABY TALK'
By JEANE MacINTOSH, MAGGIE HABERMAN and LUKAS I. ALPERT
May 7, 2008 --
Embattled Staten Island Rep. Vito Fossella isn't saying whether he fathered a love child - but his alleged gal pal is doing enough talking for the both of them.
Shapely former Air Force Col. Laura Fay has been frantically phoning friends and relatives, urging them not to talk to the media about the identity of her baby's daddy, a relative told The Post yesterday.
By JEANE MacINTOSH, MAGGIE HABERMAN and LUKAS I. ALPERT
May 7, 2008 --
Embattled Staten Island Rep. Vito Fossella isn't saying whether he fathered a love child - but his alleged gal pal is doing enough talking for the both of them.
Shapely former Air Force Col. Laura Fay has been frantically phoning friends and relatives, urging them not to talk to the media about the identity of her baby's daddy, a relative told The Post yesterday.
Fay's flurry of calls is designed to shore up a wall of silence since details of her relationship with Fossella emerged when she curiously signed him out of jail after his arrest for drunk driving in Alexandria, Va. last Thursday, the relative said.
When he was stopped, "the subject stated that he was driving down from Washington D.C. to Grimm St. because his daughter was sick and needed to go to the hospital," the police report said.
When he was stopped, "the subject stated that he was driving down from Washington D.C. to Grimm St. because his daughter was sick and needed to go to the hospital," the police report said.
Fay lives on Grimm Drive.
He was stopped after being spotted weaving all over the road. His blood-alcohol level was 0.17, more than double the legal limit - and the police report said his lips and teeth were stained red, apparently from wine.
Meanwhile, Fossella also has made several hush-hush phone calls to top-level Republican Party officials on Staten Island to gauge their support amid the swirling scandal, other sources said yesterday.
He was stopped after being spotted weaving all over the road. His blood-alcohol level was 0.17, more than double the legal limit - and the police report said his lips and teeth were stained red, apparently from wine.
Meanwhile, Fossella also has made several hush-hush phone calls to top-level Republican Party officials on Staten Island to gauge their support amid the swirling scandal, other sources said yesterday.
Fay, 45, has been refusing to talk publicly about her relationship with Fossella, and the relative - who spoke on condition of anonymity - says she has always been cagey about who fathered her toddler daughter.
Fossella - who has three children with his wife of 18 years - has not denied the rumors. His spokeswoman has only angrily declined to comment, calling such questions "highly inappropriate."
Fossella - who has three children with his wife of 18 years - has not denied the rumors. His spokeswoman has only angrily declined to comment, calling such questions "highly inappropriate."
Many party bigwigs are standing behind the embattled congressman - who faces re-election in the fall - but others are deeply concerned that Fossella's political career could be doomed if it emerges that Fay's 3-year-old daughter is his.
"He's got a real reservoir of strength [in his district] to rely on. There's no moves against him within the party," insisted fellow Republican Rep. Peter King, a close friend. "He's not making excuses, none of that."
"He's got a real reservoir of strength [in his district] to rely on. There's no moves against him within the party," insisted fellow Republican Rep. Peter King, a close friend. "He's not making excuses, none of that."
But one of the state's top Republicans told The Post, "He's not going to be able to win re-election if he is the father."
Sources said party officials have privately discussed who could best hold onto the seat for the GOP should Fossella end up in deeper trouble.
Names being bandied about include Staten Island DA Daniel Donovan and city Councilman James Oddo.
Meanwhile, Fossella, 43, went back to work yesterday, appearing haggard and wan at an Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing on telecom issues.
"The congressman is in Washington, and he is on the floor. He is focused on doing his job and not on politics," said his spokeswoman, Susan Del Percio.
"The congressman is in Washington, and he is on the floor. He is focused on doing his job and not on politics," said his spokeswoman, Susan Del Percio.
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