On Easter morning, Congressman Darren Soto and his wife Amanda posed for a photo at a church in Polk County, Florida and posted it to the representative’s Facebook account.
“Happy Easter everyone!” the congressman wrote in the post. “My wife and I were honored to worship with the inspiring folks of Parkview Christian Center and New Mount Zion in Haines City.
“We hope everyone has a blessed day with their families!”
Hours later, an intoxicated Amanda Soto, 33, was in the back of a police car smashing her head against the window as she screamed profanities at an Orange County deputy outside of Walt Disney World, police told the Orlando Sentinel.
“It should be noted that I attempted to calm Amanda numerous times from her agitated state and that even while attempting to speak with her she continued to utter that her husband is a congressman, therefore, she can do whatever she wants,” Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Cory Heller wrote in his report.
Heller was called to a bus stop at Disney Springs, where both Amanda Soto and her mother appeared intoxicated and in the midst of an “aggressive” argument.
Soto was “holding … her mother by the straps of a backpack she was wearing in an attempt to keep her from walking away,” according to the arrest report.
The deputy called an Uber vehicle to take the women home, but Soto began “screaming profanities” at Heller and the driver, which led to her arrest due to “growing anger towards law enforcement and unrelated members of the public,” Fox 35 reports.
When the Uber driver asked Soto where she was going, WFTV reports she responded, “I don’t need you questioning me, b**ch.”
The driver refused service and Heller eventually handcuffed Soto and put her in the back of his patrol car, where “she began banging (her) head against the window in what appeared to be an attempt to harm herself,” he wrote in the arrest report. “Amanda was further restrained for her safety.”
She was booked into the Orange County jail on a second-degree misdemeanor charge of disorderly intoxication, which carried up to a one year jail sentence. She was released Monday morning after posting bail, the Daily Mail reports.
The news site pointed out the irony of a March 1 Facebook post of Rep. Soto marching with his wife at the 2017 Women’s March – the congressman in a pink scarf and Amanda Soto in a shirt that reads “nasty woman.”
Darren Soto, who is in his first term representing parts of Orange, Osceola and Polk counties, offered an excuse for his wife’s behavior in a prepared statement Monday morning.
“My wife, Amanda, has for years suffered from depression and been under medical care. In accordance with her treatment plan and under her doctor’s supervision, she recently stopped using her medication,” the statement read.
“Yesterday, she drank too much and reached an argumentative state with a family member, which led to arrest. She deeply regrets her actions and takes full responsibility for them. Amanda and her physician will be reviewing her mental health treatment, immediately.”
Fox 35 reports Darren Soto was with his wife and mother-in-law at Disney Springs on Sunday.
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