Karen Huger Says The 'Pressure' Of Being On 'Real Housewives' Led To Her DUI Arrest

"The Real Housewives of Potomac" star Karen Huger is gearing up for sentencing following a jury's guilty verdict over her March 2024 arrest, in which the reality star crashed her Maserati after crossing a median, hitting a pole and street signs.

According to a court filing from Huger's new legal team, the reality star shared more information about the struggles she's faced since her parents died in 2017 with a judge, which she says started an unhealthy relationship with alcohol.

As the filing continued, Karen Huger also mentioned how the "pressure" of living her life in the public eye and being one of the OG cast members of "RHOP" also played a role in her accident.

In new court documents obtained by In Touch, Huger and her legal team argued to the judge that the Bravo star had faced a series of unfortunate events, including her parents' death, over the last several years, which they believe had something to do with her accident.

They also reference the antidepressant medication Huger has been prescribed, saying, "Ms. Huger was hoping to explain that she believes she drank in moderation; however, her difficulties that evening were the product of a combination of alcohol and a prescribed antidepressant medication for depression."

Huger's sentencing, in which she faces up to two years in jail, is scheduled for Wednesday, February 26, 2025.

Huger's lawyers mentioned that the reality star believed she'd be able to "continue to drink in moderation in social settings" while taking her prescribed medication.

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," they explained.

For those who may be unfamiliar with Huger's arc on "The Real Housewives of Potomac" and Bravo in general, the 61-year-old joined the series in its first season, which aired in 2017.

Since then, she's become a mainstay, and many, including her co-stars and executive producer Andy Cohen, refer to her as "The Grande Dame," which is defined as a "woman of influential position within a particular sphere."

Huger's trial, which featured two days of statements, concluded in December 2024. The "Beyond The Gates" guest star was found guilty of several driving offenses, including driving under the influence, negligent driving, and several other counts.

In her filing to the judge ahead of her sentencing, Huger called the trial experience a "wake-up call" that encouraged her to get the help she needed.

"During the trial, she could not turn off the testimony or the body cameras. She could not get up and walk out of the room nor look at her phone. The trial was a wake-up call that inspired Ms. Huger to take the dramatic step of entering a 28-day in-patient rehabilitation program: Beachside in West Palm Beach," the document read.

Huger's decision to admit herself into an in-patient rehabilitation program came in early January 2025, the day the cast of "RHOP" gathered to film their season 9 reunion. Of course, the reality star wasn't present; however, her legal team revealed that she was "fully supported in this choice."

Many of her co-stars, however, such as Gizelle Bryant, Mia Thornton, Ashley Darby, and Dr. Wendy Osefo, questioned Huger's intentions during part one of the reunion gathering, wondering why she'd wait to seek help just before her sentencing date.

According to a Washington Post report, the prosecutor in Huger's case replied to her new plea and isn't moved by her emotional request.

The government slammed the reality star for being charged with another driving offense before referencing her three previous arrests between 2006 and 2011.

“The fact that Ms. Huger has repeatedly been given the benefit of another chance on three separate occasions demonstrates that she has not learned anything from her prior arrests,” wrote the prosecutor. “In fact, it appears as if she has been emboldened.”

In another report, government officials address Huger's lack of accountability, which was showcased during episodes of "Potmac's" ninth season.

"In the nine months leading up to trial, she did not enroll herself into any type of alcohol treatment program or support group. Instead, the Defendant spent 6 days at the Miraval Resort in Arizona in August of 2024- which her former defense attorneys depicted to the State as a ‘holistic wellness program.’ Miraval is not a rehab or counseling center of any kind and is rather quite simply a luxury spa," the document read.

They also mentioned the rehabilitation center that Huger checked into at the beginning of 2025, calling it a "luxury alcohol treatment center."

Therefore, the prosecutor's office asked the court to sentence Huger to six months of jail time.

Following Huger's guilty verdict, shocking body camera footage showing the reality star in a seemingly compromised state was shared online. The 30-minute clip shows Huger swaying and slurring. She was also seen making reckless comments, such as describing herself as "lit" to a law enforcement officer.

Before the trial, the Bravo star requested that incriminating footage and her comments be suppressed. According to her, they were gathered unlawfully. However, a judge ruled in favor of the prosecution, who claimed the reality star's comments were made voluntarily.

Once her trial concluded, Huger addressed the court's judgment, admitting she was "disappointed" by their verdict. Her then-lawyer, A. Scott Bolden, however, hinted that their team would seek to file an appeal "to fully pursue justice on [Huger's] behalf."