According to The Hill, self described as:
The Newspaper for and about the U.S. Congress.Foley's lawyer claimed last week that Foley hid his alcoholism problem by only drinking alone, but pictures, news accounts, and interviews with other Congressionals show he did drink in public.
At a press conference in West Palm Beach, Fla. last Tuesday, Roth said that the former congressman did not drink around other people.
"People close to Mark knew that he was a closet drinker, as it is referred to," Roth said, adding, "Mark, to my knowledge and based upon all the information that I have, never drank in public," according to a transcript of the press conference. "However, at night he did drink and has admitted to that and he has indicated that he strongly believes that he's an alcoholic and is receiving treatment for it."
Other lawyers believe that, if Foley's lawyer can convince a jury that the former Representative is an alcoholic, then he might win a reduced penalty for any conviction.
But the mistatements already made over alcoholism shows a pattern of deception seems to be the point of the Hill article the title of which is indicated above.
Bonus cartoon: See Weyant's World: Let's Get It Over With.