In December 2024, The Real Housewives of Potomac star Karen Huger was convicted of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and related charges. There was no denying Karen’s impairment once the prosecution showed the arresting officer’s body-cam footage to the court. Karen was obviously slurring her words and proclaiming, “Oh God, I’m lit!” following the crash of her Maserati into a tree.
Sadly, this isn’t Karen’s first rodeo when it comes to driving under the influence. This is the Grande Dame’s fourth alcohol-related arrest, with previous convictions dating from 2006 to 2011.
None of Karen’s previous convictions resulted in jail time. But that’s about to change if Montgomery County prosecutors get their way. Arguing that past leniency has had no effect on her behavior, Prosecutor Jordan Kramer is pushing for a six-month jail sentence.
Karen Huger went off to rehab following her conviction
Though Karen’s legal team tried to get the body-cam footage thrown out, it proved the most damning evidence. “She was hammered,” Sgt. Brett Trahan testified.
Meanwhile, the prosecutor is out for blood. “Ms. Huger has repeatedly been given the benefit of another chance on three separate occasions,” he wrote. “She has not learned anything from her prior arrests.”
Karen has never spent a single day in jail. After initially refusing to go to rehab, she checked into a 28-day program following her conviction. Reasons for her stay included her issues with alcohol, overreliance on antidepressants, and past trauma from a college sexual assault.
The odd timing of her rehab raised some eyebrows among prosecutors, as well as her castmates. It would have shown more remorse for Karen to check in prior to her conviction. Prosecutors also portray her rehab facility as more of a luxury spa than a treatment center.
Despite Karen’s absence from the RHOP reunion, her legal issues were still discussed in detail. Mia Thornton suggested her rehab stay is a ploy to influence sentencing. While less cynical Stacey Rusch encouraged compassion for Karen and her family.
Meanwhile, Karen’s attorney calls her experience at the trial “a wakeup call.”
“She was shocked with embarrassment,” he said. “She could not turn off the testimony or the body cameras. [Neither could she] get up and walk out of the room.”
Karen comes up for sentencing on February 26. As Karen awaits her fate, Bravo has yet to confirm her return for Season 10. My money’s on a prison jumpsuit being in Karen’s future, but we’ll find out tomorrow.
The Real Housewives of Potomac airs Sundays at 8/7c on Bravo.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK THE JUDGE WILL SHOW LENIENCY OR WILL KAREN GO TO JAIL?
