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NEW YORK, NY May 08, 2008 —Republican Congressman Vito Fosella has admitted to having an affair and fathering a child out of wedlock. His confession today has some speculating that his seat in Congress might be in peril. WNYC's Kathleen Horan has more.

Fosella says he fathered a child three years ago and has had a relationship with the child's mother. He apologized for the pain he's caused and said he's not ready to make any decisions about his political future yet.

But Staten Islander Lola Oni says two strikes and you should be out.

ONI: I think the drunk driving incident, if was just one incident then i think we should forgive him but having a child outside of his marriage and he's still in that relationship - its gonna be too far - I think the best thing is for him to resign.

REPORTER: But Staten Islander Guiseppe Covello says Fosella's private life should stay that way, besides who doesn't have a secret?:

COVELLO: Everybody has something to hide - one way or the other...deep down, every one of us has a little thing that we hide...one day it might come out.

REPORTER: Fosella's private life came under scrutiny after he was arrested for drunken driving last week in Virginia. He told officers he was going to see his daughter in the area when he was pulled over.

That prompted questions because he, his wife, and three kids live in New York.

Fosella is the only Republican congressman from the city. He was elected to congress in 1997 after serving three years in the City Council.

For WNYC, I'm Kathleen Horan.