Democratic Chair Busted for DUI After Pulling the ‘You Know Who I Am’ Card [WATCH]

A prominent Rhode Island Democratic official was arrested on a misdemeanor DUI charge after a traffic stop in East Greenwich last week, an encounter that was recorded on police body-worn camera video and later released.

Maria Bucci, 51, the chairwoman of the Democratic committee in Cranston, the state’s second-largest city, was taken into custody on Dec. 18 following a traffic stop in East Greenwich.

According to media reports, the arrest occurred after an officer said he observed erratic driving and detected the smell of alcohol.

In the bodycam footage, Bucci is heard addressing the officer shortly after the stop began.

“You know who I am right?” Bucci says after the officer tells her he smelled alcohol on her breath.

The officer immediately rejects the suggestion that her position would influence the outcome of the stop.

“I don’t know who you are miss,” the officer responds.

“You can start throwing out names and start doing out what you need to do, it’s not going to work with me, I’m telling you right now, I’m not the guy for that.”

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The video shows the officer attempting to guide Bucci through a series of field sobriety tests. Throughout the encounter, Bucci disputes the officer’s assessment and repeatedly challenges the situation.

Earlier in the video, Bucci told the officer she had consumed a glass of wine and had attended a Christmas party prior to driving.

The officer continues the investigation while explaining the steps of the sobriety tests.

At one point during the stop, Bucci makes a statement referencing race and the arrest.

“Call my husband right now, and call the attorney general and everybody else in town, cause this is disgusting, God forbid I was a Black person, I’d be arrested,” she says.

The traffic stop eventually leads to Bucci being placed under arrest.

As officers place her in handcuffs, she directs insults toward the officer while looking at the body camera.

“you’re a d**k,” Bucci says.

She continues speaking as she is taken into custody.

“Like I am not drinking, you’re a loser,” she adds.

Bucci has been a visible figure in Rhode Island Democratic politics for years.

She previously served on the Cranston City Council from 2004 to 2008 and later ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Cranston.

According to the Cranston Herald, she also launched an unsuccessful campaign for a Rhode Island House of Representatives seat last year.

Following her arrest, Bucci was charged with misdemeanor driving under the influence.

She was later released on $1,000 personal recognizance, according to WPRI.

Court records indicate Bucci is scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 5.

The release of the bodycam footage has drawn attention to the exchange between Bucci and the arresting officer, particularly her remark asking if the officer knew who she was and the officer’s response that names and political connections would not affect his actions.