June 19, 2021- 7:55 p.m.
President Trump Saturday endorsed disgraced former Rep. Vito Fossella’s comeback bid for Staten Island borough president.
The ex-president jumped into the Republican primary race, in which the former congressman hopes to recapture the local fame that catapulted him to Washington D.C. two decades ago.
“He is strong, tough, loves our Country and truly loves the Great People of Staten Island,” Trump wrote in an email message. “(He’s) a powerful voice against crime and all other things going wrong in the city that we love.”
Fossella decided not to run for reelection to Congressional seat after a 2008 drunken driving arrest revealed that he had an entire second family. He says he’s reconciled with his wife.
Fossella is considered an underdog in the GOP race to replace Borough President James Oddo, who is barred by term limits from running for another term.
He faces two GOP opponents — City Councilman Steven Matteo, who has the backing of the borough’s Republican Party organization and several powerful police unions, and Leticia Remauro, a former State Island GOP chairwoman.
Several Democrats are also vying for the Staten Island borough presidency.
President Trump Saturday endorsed disgraced former Rep. Vito Fossella in his comeback bid for Staten Island borough president. (Miller Elisa/)
