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Moore administration officials were trying to put DUI charges against Human Services Secretary Rafael L贸pez in the past, with L贸pez and the governor both saying the secretary has taken 鈥渇ull responsibility鈥� for his actions.
They were responding to reports that聽聽in Washington, D.C., with driving under the influence and operating a vehicle while impaired on the evening of Jan. 18.
Court documents in the case name the driver as Ralph Lopez, but list a home address that is the same as a property Rafael L贸pez lists in his Maryland financial disclosure forms as one that he owns. The charges were first reported on Friday聽.
According to a聽聽in the case, L贸pez was driving in the unit block of Louisiana Avenue NW about 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 8 when an officer noticed his car crossing the center line several times. After stopping for a red light at D Street NW, the car sat for 10 seconds after the light turned green, forcing another car to go around before it started moving.
The officer pulled the car over on North Capitol Street, where the driver said he was returning from a friend鈥檚 house where he had had two drinks 鈥� he later said one 鈥� between 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. But the police report said the driver鈥檚 face was flush, he had 鈥渞ed, watery eyes鈥� and a 鈥渟trong odor of alcoholic beverage鈥� coming off him.
L贸pez was wearing a walking boot for a previous foot injury, so the officer did not administer walking sobriety tests, but did administer other tests including eye-tracking, reciting part of the alphabet, counting backwards and touching his finger to his nose. After those tests, the office administered a breath test and recorded a breath alcohol content of 0.097. The legal limit in the District is 0.08.
L贸pez was scheduled to take leave for a medical procedure this spring, but was put on administrative leave from his job after 鈥渁fter immediately reporting a charge for driving under the influence鈥� to the administration, according to a statement released by the department.
鈥淚 take full responsibility for my actions,鈥� L贸pez said in that statement. 鈥淚 have taken the appropriate corrective measures and appreciate the support I have received from my family, friends, and colleagues.鈥�
He returned to work on April 15, his office said.
L贸pez鈥檚 statement was echoed by Gov. Wes Moore (D) when he was asked about it Friday.
鈥淭he secretary has taken full accountability and responsibility for his action and I would just refer people to his statement,鈥� Moore said.
L贸pez has a status hearing scheduled in his case on Aug. 13 before D.C. Superior Court Judge Tyrona DeWitt.
