Former NY state top Republican reportedly tried to blame wife before admitting to DWI

The former New York state top Republican reportedly tried to blame his wife before admitting to the DWI that prompted him to resign as Assembly minority leader last week, USA Today reported. 

Assemblyman Brian Kolb allegedly told a tow truck driver his wife was driving when his state-owned vehicle ended up in a ditch by his house.

“The male stood up and put his hands up and said, ‘My wife was driving!’ He then said, ‘You know how women drive.’ I did not see anyone else around the vehicle,” tow truck driver Michael Scoville said, according to court papers obtained by USA Today.

Scoville contacted the police when he found the car had hit a guy wire, making it property damage. The deputy’s statement said the “vehicle made a left turn into a driveway and slid off the edge of the driveway down an embankment,” USA Today reported.

Kolb was described as having “glassy bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath.” The assemblyman reportedly told police he had four or five cocktails at a restaurant 15 miles from his home and admitted to driving, according to the newspaper. His blood alcohol level was measured at 0.16 percent, double the state’s legal limit.

The former Assembly minority leader will be arraigned at Victor Town Court Thursday.

His lawyer Christopher Schiano declined to comment to the newspaper, saying he had not reviewed the court filings. 

Kolb issued an apology after being arrested on New Year’s Eve, weeks after he had written a column warning about drunk driving during the holiday season. He decided to step down as the minority leader on Friday, and Assemblyman Will Barclay was elected to take his place, according to USA Today.