• 24
  • January
    2012

Newburgh's congressional representative has faced a number of challenges in his long career. Perhaps the most important challenge for 73-year-old Rep. Maurice Hinchey has been his difficult battle to overcome colon cancer.

Even when recently announcing his retirement, the 10-term congressman from New York's 22nd Congressional District had to deal with the challenge of his wife's arrest for driving while intoxicated the night before.

His wife, Allison Lee, 49, was also charged with driving an unlicensed motor vehicle in addition to her DWI charge.

She was arrested in Albany last Wednesday. On Thursday, Rep. Hinchey made his announcement with his daughter at his side. No mention was made at the time of his wife's arrest.

The resignation announcement was made at the Senate House State Historic Site in Kingston, filled to overflowing with Hinchey supporters. The congressman spent 18 years in the state Assembly before spending two decades in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Hinchey said that his efforts to force industry clean-up of PCB contaminants in the upper Hudson would stand as one of his proudest accomplishments in Congress.

He has been battling cancer over the last year or so, and though he says he's cancer-free, he also says it's time to step aside.

His wife released a statement in which she apologized and said she would address the DWI arrest "both legally and personally."

A reporter who asked the retiring congressman about his wife's arrest was roundly booed by Hinchey supporters at the resignation speech.

Police said Lee's blood alcohol content was 0.14 percent at the time of the arrest.

Source: WNYT: "Hinchey's wife arrested on eve of retirement announcement," Bill Lambdin, Jan. 19, 2012