Karen Huger Blames Medication for DUI Arrest, Seeks Leniency in Court Plea

In a court hearing on February 25, 2025, Real Housewives of Potomac star Karen Huger made an emotional plea for leniency after being convicted of driving under the influence (DUI), negligent driving, and failure to control her speed. The 61-year-old reality star argued that the combination of personal tragedies and prescribed medication played a significant role in the events leading to her arrest.

According to exclusive court documents obtained by In Touch, Karen Huger opened up about the toll the deaths of both her parents took on her. She described the stress of managing grief while maintaining her responsibilities as a public figure on the popular Bravo reality show. “The stress of losing my parents and providing responsible leadership on the show led me to take more anti-depressants,” she said in her court statement. “I believe this played a role in the circumstances that night.”

Back in December 2024, Karen was found guilty of DUI after crashing her 2017 Maserati into a tree. Officers believed she was intoxicated at the time of the incident, but as her legal team revealed, there were additional factors at play. Karen’s attorneys claimed that, while her prescribed anti-depressants did not excuse her actions, they contributed to her impaired coordination, particularly when combined with alcohol.

In her plea to the court, Karen’s legal representatives explained, “Ms. Huger reports that it was during the trial that she first saw the body camera footage of her demeanor and coordination. She had suffered a concussion from the exploding airbags, along with the alcohol and medication.” This new information came to light during her 2024 trial when the footage revealed her disoriented state, which was a source of embarrassment for the reality star.

Karen’s defense emphasized that, in the years leading up to the arrest, she had been dealing with personal trauma. The court documents highlight the devastating losses she experienced: “Ms. Huger’s mother died on Thanksgiving morning in 2017 of kidney failure and sepsis. Her father died seven months later from complications of Alzheimer’s and ‘of a broken heart.'”

Her lawyers went on to explain that as her grief intensified, her medication dosage increased. “I was taking one pill after the assault and then I began taking two after my parents’ death,” Karen revealed. “I appeared to be in control and had no noticeable issues that I was aware of.”

On the night of her arrest, Karen went to dinner with a friend, consuming champagne during the meal. In hindsight, she acknowledged, “I am concerned that the medication, combined with alcohol, impaired my ability to accurately assess my coordination on March 19.”

Following the incident, Karen took a significant step toward recovery, entering a 28-day in-patient rehab program at Beachside Recovery in West Palm Beach, Florida. Her lawyer detailed the aftermath of her medication cessation: “Ms. Huger took her last dose of the anti-depressant medication on December 28, the night before she checked into her residential program. She reports that four nights later, she woke up completely drenched in sweat as she went through withdrawal.”

While Karen’s defense sought to explain her actions, prosecutors weren’t as sympathetic. They pointed out that Karen had two prior DUI convictions and that her history of impaired driving was troubling. They also emphasized that she had failed to take accountability for her actions in the months leading up to the trial. Instead of seeking alcohol treatment, Karen had attended a luxury spa in Arizona, which the prosecution described as “not a rehab or counseling center of any kind.”

In light of this, prosecutors recommended a harsh sentence, calling for two years in prison, with all but six months suspended, along with probation, an interlock device on any car she drives, and mandatory completion of a victim impact panel.

As Karen continues to face the consequences of her actions, it remains to be seen what impact this legal saga will have on her future both personally and professionally.