Posted on 02/16/2006 12:56:09 PM PST by blogblogginaway
SARITA, Texas (AP) - The sheriff's department closed its investigation Thursday into Dick Cheney's accidental shooting of a hunting partner and said no charges will be filed.
The Kenedy County Sheriff's Department issued a report that largely supports the vice president's account of the weekend accident that wounded 78-year-old lawyer Harry Whittington.
Whittington, interviewed in the hospital, assured investigators no one was drinking when the accident occurred and everyone was wearing bright orange safety gear, according to the report.
Sheriff's dispatcher Diana Mata, speaking for the department, said the case is closed and no charges will be filed. She said Sheriff Ramon Salinas would have no comment on the report.
Whittington was peppered with bird shot in the face and chest Saturday while hunting quail with Cheney on a ranch in South Texas. He is in a Corpus Christi hospital in stable condition after suffering a mild heart attack caused by a pellet that traveled to his heart.
Gilberto San Miguel Jr., an investigator with the Sheriff's Department, interviewed Cheney at the ranch a day after the shooting. San Miguel reported that Cheney shook his hand and "told me he was there to cooperate in any way with the interview."
The vice president said the sun was setting when Whittington fired at some quail and went to find his downed birds, according to the report.
Cheney said he walked about 100 yards and met up with the hunting guide. He said a bird flew behind him, and he followed it in a counterclockwise direction, not realizing Whittington had walked up behind him to rejoin the group. He said Whittington was about 30 yards away, on lower ground, when he fired his shotgun.
"Mr. Cheney told me if Mr. Whittington was on the same ground level the injuries might have been lower on Mr. Whittington's body," the investigator reported.
The investigator, accompanied by another officer, briefly interviewed Whittington at his hospital room on Monday.
"I asked Mr. Whittington if we could record our conversation and Mr. Whittington requested not to be recorded due to his voice being raspy," San Miguel wrote.
The investigator asked for an affidavit, and Whittington said he would provide one when he returned home to his office in Austin. Doctors have said Whittington will probably remain hospitalized until next week.
Before a nurse asked the officers to "hurry up so Mr. Whittington could rest," Whittington "explained foremost there was no alcohol during the hunt and everyone was wearing the proper hunting attire of blaze orange," San Miguel reported.
Whittington said the shooting "was just an accident," and he was concerned all the media attention would give hunting in Texas a bad image, the report said.
COVER UP!
Police Report closes the door on the whole story:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0216061cheney1.html
Oh boy, the NYT's won't like this.
Then it must be Bush's fault!
...
Before a nurse asked the officers to "hurry up so Mr. Whittington could rest," Whittington "explained foremost there was no alcohol during the hunt and everyone was wearing the proper hunting attire of blaze orange," San Miguel reported.
I onder if any alcohol was consumed before the shooting?
With such an announcement, and with the despair of the White House Press Corps, I suggest guards be sent to watch over Mr. Whittington, in case one of the reporters decides to do him in and blame the VP. Sorta like the paparazi did when they loosened the brakes on Tonya Harding's truck to get her to come outside for photos.
Somewhere, in the deep bowels of the White House press room, David Gregory is crying.
Uh oh, David Gregory is going to be SMOKED!!!
The latest from DUmmieland: "I'd rather go hunting with Dick than go on a ride with Ted." Feeble talking points....
"http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=443295&mesg_id=443295
Cheney advised Brit Hume during an interview last night that he had consumed a beer during lunch, hours before the hunt.
The VP said in his Brit Hume interview yesterday that he'd had a beer during lunch, but that was hours before the accident happened.
Their hopes dashed again the msm can only hope Mr, Whittington drops dead sometime this week. Sarcasm Fake but factual.
Thanks.
Smoked monkey meat!
of course the media cannot be bothered with the facts if they get in way of the feeding frenzy
Thanks for thread bb
pppppfffffffffffttttttttt.....the air being let out of liberal heads..
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