Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster
Trey Radel is back.
Radel, a Fort Myers Republican, announced Friday he is returning to radio full-time. Beginning Tuesday, Radel will be hosting “Daybreak,” a morning talk radio show on 92.5 Fox News in Southwest Florida.
“Your support and kind words have meant more to me than you’ll ever know,” wrote Radel on his Facebook page Friday morning.
The new gig marks a return to the radio for Radel. Once a popular television and radio personality, Radel hosted the morning show before his congressional run.
Radel was elected to Congress in 2012, defeating several well-known Southwest Florida Republicans in the primary.
He quickly made a name for himself in Congress. But in November 2013, he pleaded guilty to cocaine possession charges in a Washington, D.C., courtroom. He was accused of buying $250 worth of cocaine from an undercover officer — an act that earned him the nickname “cocaine congressman.”
He took a leave of absence, but returned to Congress in January 2014. But a few days after returning to work, he resigned.
Radel kept a low profile in the months after his resignation. But he’s slowly re-emerged back to the public eye in recent months. He has an active presence on Twitter, and in January he announced he was writing a book. It’s due out in 2017.
As for the new show, Radel told his Facebook followers it will be “fun, compelling and entertaining.”
“This will not be the typical ‘conservative,’ angry, pound your fist on the car dashboard kind of show (not that I’ve ever been that dude),” he wrote. “I don’t care if you are left or right or somewhere in between. I promise you interesting insight and opinions as both an outsider and as someone who has served in office. And while it is inherently conservative talk, know this: It will NOT be full of regurgitated Republican talking points. In fact, in some areas I feel much more free to share my views which are so libertarian, they’re mistaken as liberal.”
He also promised he and listeners will “laugh together … and have a great time.”
“This show will be built on positive energy, with nothing but love for you, my friends and neighbors,” he said.
Radel’s show will air on 92.5 Fox News from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., Mondays through Fridays.
