Disgraced Republican state Assemblyman Brian Kolb claimed he was joking when he blamed his wife for his alleged New Year’s Eve drunk-driving crash — then claimed he didn’t even remember blaming her — after pleading not guilty to charges of driving while intoxicated on Thursday.
Judge James Mulley Jr. revoked Kolb’s license during an arraignment at Victor Town Court just before 1 p.m. — but accepted a hardship affidavit filed by the politician’s lawyer that’ll allow him to drive to and from work, which includes making the 200-mile trek to and from Albany.
Kolb was arrested on misdemeanor DWI charges and ticketed for making an unsafe turn by the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office after admitting that he drank “four or five cocktails” at a bar on the Erie Canal before driving about 15 miles home in his state-owned GMC Acadia on Dec. 31, according to court papers.
When he tried to turn into his driveway off County Road 41 in Victor, he careened 100 feet into a ditch and then blamed it all on his wife when AAA showed up to help.
“My wife was driving! … You know how women drive,” Kolb told the AAA driver, according to court documents.
When asked about the comments outside of court, Kolb shook it off, claiming it was all a “joke.”
“I was not blaming my wife, I was kidding around and they took it that I was serious. I would never blame my wife,” Kolb claimed.
But then Kolb — whose blood alcohol content was allegedly double the legal limit at .16 following the crash — claimed he doesn’t actually remember throwing his wife under the bus.
“I honestly don’t remember, but I would never, ever, ever say anything negative about my wife or try to put my wife in harm’s way,” the assemblyman said.
Just a week prior to his arrest, Kolb published an op-ed warning constituents not to drive drunk over the holidays. Shortly after his warning became his own cautionary tale, he stepped down from his role as Assembly minority leader and released a statement saying he’s “seeking professional help.”
Outside court, he acknowledged that “haters are everywhere” but it comes with the territory as an elected official and he’s prepared to get through it.
“I’m a human being. Things happen to human beings that will come up and the sun will come up again,” said Kolb, sporting a fresh shave and a long black wool jacket.
“You just have to take it, you have to have thick skin, and that’s what I’m doing, but this too shall pass.”
He is expected back in court Jan. 23.
Kolb’s wife, Lauren Kolb, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
