Since Season 1 of the Real Housewives of Potomac, Karen Huger took pride in her Bravo role. She stepped onto the scene, introducing herself as the Grande Dame of Potomac. From there, she tried her best to school the ladies on manners and etiquette. But often forgetting the same rules for herself. Karen was the perfect Real Housewives star who loved the shade and loved making the new girl feel unwelcomed. Sadly, the last few years have been extremely rough for the mother of two. And I am not sure she will be able to bounce back from this previous bump in the road.
Karen Huger is doing jail time
In March 2024, Karen was arrested after she crashed her 2017 Maserati into a tree after an evening out. In December, a Montgomery County jury was shown damning body camera footage of Karen. The Real Housewives Potomac star was heard yelling at the arresting officer. She also told officers, “Oh, God. I’m lit,” and that she was “Thomas Jefferson’s concubine.” In a quick two-day trial, Karen was convicted of driving under the influence. She also was found guilty of negligent driving, failure to control speed to avoid collision, and failure to notify of an address change.
Ultimately, Karen was given a two-year prison sentence. The Real Housewives of Potomac star is expected to spend one year behind bars. Upon her release, Judge Terrence McGann also sentenced Karen to five years’ probation. She will be given an extra year behind bars if she violates her probation terms. Karen has also lost all driving privileges for one year after her release. Karen can appeal the sentence within the next 30 days. She also has 90 days to request a sentencing change. Just like a few other Bravo stars, we won’t be seeing Karen on our screens for a while.
Karen Huger failed to acknowledge a drinking problem
Shortly before her sentencing, Karen filed paperwork to convince the judge that she should be given more leniency. The paperwork stated that Karen had started using anti-depressants after the loss of her parents. The court plea, which was obtained by In Touch Weekly, noted, “Ms. Huger’s mother died on Thanksgiving morning in 2017 of kidney failure and sepsis. Her father died seven months later on June 28, 2018 from the complications of Alzheimer’s and ‘of a broken heart.’ Those two losses, in quick succession, were for Ms. Huger, personally devastating and, in her opinion, may have been the straws that broke her back, arguably leading to several errors in judgment that led to her arrest in this case.”
Karen had every intention of telling the court that she “drank in moderation,” but the bodycam footage shown in court “shocked” her. The document added, “However, over time, the loss of her parents, and the pressures of being in the public eye – and the stress of providing responsible leadership on the TV show – continued to wear at her well-being. Over time, the dosages of the medication went up – probably beyond prescribed recommendations – but the drinking in moderation remained the same. As she explains, ‘I was taking one pill after the assault and then I began taking two after my parents’ death. I appeared to be in control and had no noticeable issues that I was aware of.’”
Karen Huger should hang up her title
Karen’s lawyers spoke via Good Morning America, saying, “She is glad this part of the process is over. She has been working very hard on her recovery for the last few months and that has allowed her to be the healthiest that she has been in years.” David Martella added, “She told me she is fully prepared to get through this, and she will get through this, and she looks forward to a brighter day very soon.”
Karen’s sentence seems more than lenient. The reality star could have hurt herself or someone else and that is not to be taken lightly. While she didn’t try to steal money from the elderly or swindle the United States government, she did break the law. Drunk driving is a serious crime, and just because you have a bit of fame doesn’t mean you are not mortal and shouldn’t be held to the same rules of the land. I question if Karen shouldn’t just step back altogether. If what she stated in the legal documents were true, then reality TV isn’t the place for her, and she should have learned that lesson by now. If Karen does return or partake in a special, it would solidify to me that all she shared was just an attempt to try to reduce her sentence.
The Real Housewives of Potomac is available to stream on Peacock.
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