House speaker's wife charged with DUI

The wife of House Speaker Michael E. Busch, D-Annapolis, was arrested and charged Tuesday night with driving under the influence of alcohol, according to state police.

Cynthia F. Abbott Busch, 51, of Annapolis, was also charged with driving under the influence of alcohol per se, driving while impaired by alcohol, and entering an intersection at a flashing red traffic signal without stopping.

The arrest occurred after a state trooper saw a 2008 Mitsubishi Endeavor travel north on Bladen Street in Annapolis and proceed through flashing red lights at the intersection of Calvert Street without stopping, the police said.

The car continued north on Rowe Boulevard and the trooper stopped the vehicle, which was occupied only by Mrs. Busch, after it turned onto Herbert Sachs Road. The trooper smelled a strong odor of alcohol, arrested Mrs. Busch at just after midnight, and took her to the Glen Burnie barracks for processing.

She was released to her husband around 2 a.m.

Speaker Busch's office released this statement yesterday:

"This is a regrettable incident that is being dealt with as a family matter. Mrs. Busch accepts responsibility for her actions and she will cooperate fully as the legal process moves forward."