Can you believe it? A top aide to Governor Kathy Hochul and former Governor Andrew Cuomo has found herself in the midst of a destructive DWI scandal. Haley Viccaro, a state spokeswoman and former aide, has been charged with felony aggravated DWI after a late-night wreck that involved crashing her car into a utility pole and a fire hydrant.
In a shocking turn of events, Haley Viccaro, a former aide to Governor Kathy Hochul and ex-Governor Andrew Cuomo, has been charged with felony aggravated DWI and multiple traffic infractions following a destructive late-night crash. The incident occurred on June 12 when Viccaro wrecked her Toyota Rav4 in upstate Colonie, colliding with a utility pole and a fire hydrant.
This is not the first time Viccaro has faced legal trouble related to drunk driving. In 2017, she was arrested for a DWI in the same area, as reported by spotlightnews.com. The prior arrest has elevated the charges against her to a felony this time. Unfortunately, details regarding the earlier case have not been provided by the police.
Aggravated DWI charges are serious and are applied when a driver’s blood-alcohol level exceeds 0.18, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08. According to reports, Viccaro was allegedly using a portable digital device before veering off the road and causing the crash.
Upon arriving at the scene, law enforcement officers detected alcohol on Viccaro’s breath and noticed her slurring her speech. Field sobriety tests confirmed their suspicions, and she failed the state blood-alcohol content (BAC) limit test. As a result, she was taken into custody but released without bail, with a scheduled court appearance on July 3.
Haley Viccaro’s professional history includes serving as the director of communications for Governor Hochul during her tenure as lieutenant governor and later as a senior adviser after Cuomo’s controversial resignation in 2021. She also held the position of deputy communications director for energy and environment for Cuomo in the same year. Currently, she serves as the strategic communications director for climate at the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
In response to the charges, Viccaro expressed awareness of the serious implications of driving while intoxicated and conveyed her commitment to resolving the matter through the legal process. The governor’s office declined to comment, directing inquiries to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). A spokesperson for the DEC stated that they are evaluating the situation and are unable to provide further comments at this time.
The arrest of a prominent figure closely associated with both Governor Hochul and former Governor Cuomo has raised concerns about the administration’s integrity and judgment. The incident serves as a reminder of the grave consequences of driving under the influence and highlights the importance of holding public officials accountable for their actions.
The repercussions of her actions are yet to be seen, but one thing is clear: the fallout from this incident will have far-reaching implications for New York State.
