Republican congressman, Trey Radel, faces cocaine charge

A Republican Congressman has been arrested on charges of cocaine possession, it has emerged.

Trey Radel, 37, was arrested for drug possession in Washington DC, on 29 October, according to court papers filed on Tuesday. He is scheduled to appear in a local court on Wednesday.

Mr Radel, who represents several of Florida's Gulf Coast communities, and has worked as a radio host prior to being elected to Congress in 2012, apologised as news spread of his arrest.

As word spread of the charges filed against him, Mr Radel acknowledged his struggle with alcoholism, saying it led him to “an extremely irresponsible choice”. “I know I have a problem and will do whatever is necessary to overcome it, hopefully setting an example for others struggling with this disease,” he said in a statement.