Foxx Supports Chief of Staff After DWI Arrest

Posted August 12, 2011 at 5:05pm

Updated: Aug. 13, 4:23 p.m.

North Carolina Rep. Virginia Foxx (R) said on Friday that a top aide who had been charged with drunk driving has her support and will keep his job.

Foxx was defending chief of staff William Todd Poole, who was arrested on drunk driving charges earlier this week, according to records obtained by Roll Call.

Poole, 36, was charged Tuesday with driving while impaired, resisting a public officer and failing to yield on a left turn, according to documents.

A Watauga County, N.C., deputy clerk confirmed the authenticity of the record and that Poole was “taken to the magistrate’s office,” that is, arrested. A court date is set for Sept. 13, the deputy clerk said.

“He blew a .08,” the clerk said, indicating that Poole was at the legal limit of intoxication under state law. The Winston Salem-Journal reported Friday however, that Poole refused a Brethalyzer test. The newspaper cited court documents and said a blood sample had been taken from Poole for an alcohol level.

Reached by Roll Call at her home Friday afternoon and asked whether her chief of staff had been arrested for driving while impaired, Foxx replied, “Yes, it is true.”

“He’ll remain on the staff. It’s a judicial matter and it will work its way through the process,” she said.

According to Legistorm, Poole has been Foxx’s chief of staff since 2007, and has worked for her in various positions since 2005. Prior to that he worked for then-Rep. Richard Burr (R-N.C.).

Does Poole still have Foxx’s support? “Absolutely,” she told Roll Call. “It’s a very unfortunate incident.”

Calls and an email to Poole were not returned.