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Prominent Hillary Clinton Supporter Charged With DUI

Former U.S. forward Abby Wambach / AP
April 4, 2016

Abby Wambach, a retired U.S. women’s soccer player and prominent Hillary Clinton supporter, was arrested over the weekend and charged with driving under the influence.

Wambach, who campaigned for Clinton just three months ago, was arrested around 2 a.m. Sunday by authorities in Portland, Oregon, and was charged with misdemeanor DUII (driving under the influence of intoxicants), booking information from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office indicated. She was released on her own recognizance the same day.

The Portland Police Department issued a release Sunday saying that Wambach was stopped Saturday night just after 11 p.m. after failing to stop at a red light while driving a 2014 Range Rover. The sergeant who stopped the ex-U.S. soccer player observed signs that she was under the influence of alcohol. Wambach was arrested after she failed field sobriety tests. The release noted that she was "polite and cooperative" throughout the investigation.

Wambach broke her silence on the arrest in a post to Facebook Sunday, taking responsibility for the incident, which she said occurred after a dinner at a friend’s house.

"Those that know me, know that I have always demanded excellence from myself. I have let myself and others down. I take full responsibility for my actions. This is all on me. I promise that I will do whatever it takes to ensure that my horrible mistake is never repeated. I am so sorry to my family, friends, fans, and those that look to follow a better example," Wambach wrote.

Wambach was part of the U.S. soccer team that won the FIFA Women’s World Cup last summer. She retired last December and shortly after campaigned for Hillary Clinton alongside actress Lena Dunham ahead of the New Hampshire Democratic primary. Despite the celebrity support, Clinton lost New Hampshire to challenger Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) by more than 20 points.