“Real Housewives of Potomac” cast member Karen Huger has been released from jail ahead of schedule, closing a stormy chapter in her life.
The 62-year-old reality star was released Tuesday from the Montgomery County Detention Center in Maryland, a spokesperson for the Montgomery Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said. Huger’s release six months into a one-year sentence for her 2024 DUI conviction.
In February, Huger was given a two-year prison sentence, one year suspended, when she was convicted of DUI and negligent driving. The accident that prompted the charges occurred in March 2024 when police detained Huger after she veered across a median, hit street signs, and wrecked her Maserati. Her arrest on suspicion of DUI and other traffic infractions followed, and she was subsequently released from jail.
Video posted by local journalists caught Huger waving at onlookers as she left the center and entered into a waiting SUV. Representatives for the reality star have yet to comment on her early release.
In court, Huger was charged with more than DUI. A Maryland jury found her guilty in December of failure to control her speed and failure to report a change of address to authorities, though she was acquitted of reckless driving. After the verdict, Huger’s lawyer A. Scott Bolden spoke with People magazine, saying they were “disappointed” with the ruling but respected the jury’s decision.
Huger also had spoken out before regarding emotional struggles that led to what she did. She explained to TMZ shortly after she was arrested that she had been grappling with grief related to her mother’s death in 2017. “Grief comes and goes in waves, and with Mother’s Day coming up, it has felt more like a tsunami,” she said at the time.
The guilty plea and jail time prevented Huger from attending Season 9’s Real Housewives of Potomac reunion. During a prerecorded message broadcast during the special, she acknowledged enrolling in a private recovery program to treat her issues with antidepressants and alcohol. “This is terribly scary, but I take full responsibility for all of this with my car accident,” Huger cried. “I don’t care about me at the moment. I care about my kids; I care about my family. They’re so traumatized.”
With her early release, it’s unknown if Huger will come back to the Bravo reality show or step away from the limelight to further her recovery.
Jamie Wells has a knack for getting the inside scoop on Hollywood’s biggest stars and up-and-coming talent. With a sharp eye for industry trends and an ear for viral moments, Jamie covers everything from red-carpet events to behind-the-scenes drama in movies, TV, and celebrity culture.
