Posted on 05/04/2006 7:06:03 PM PDT by Jean S
Rep. Patrick Kennedy (news, bio, voting record) crashed his car near the Capitol early Thursday, and a police official said he appeared intoxicated. Kennedy said he had taken sleep medication and a prescription anti-nausea drug that can cause drowsiness.
Kennedy, D-R.I., addressed the issue after a spate of news reports. His initial statement said: "I consumed no alcohol prior to the incident."'
Later, however, he issued a longer statement saying the attending physician for Congress had prescribed Phenergan on Tuesday to treat Kennedy's gastroenteritis.
Kennedy said he returned to his Capitol Hill home on Wednesday evening after a final series of votes in Congress and took "prescribed" amounts of Phenergan and Ambien, another prescribed drug that he occasionally takes to fall asleep.
"Some time around 2:45 a.m., I drove the few blocks to the Capitol Complex believing I needed to vote," his second statement said. "Apparently, I was disoriented from the medication."
Kennedy appeared to be intoxicated when he crashed his Ford Mustand into a barrier on Capitol Hill early Thursday morning, said Louis P. Cannon, president of the Washington chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police.
Cannon, who was not there, said the officers involved in the accident were instructed by an official "above the rank of patrolman" to take Kennedy home.
No sobriety tests were conducted at the scene.
A letter written by a Capitol Police officer to Acting Chief Christopher McGaffin said Kennedy appeared to be staggering when he left the vehicle after the crash about 3 a.m. The letter was first reported by Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper.
Kennedy said he was late for a vote, officer Greg Baird said in the letter to McGaffin. Baird is acting chairman of the Capitol Hill chapter of the FOP police union. The last vote of the night had occurred almost six hours earlier.
Kennedy said he was driven home by Capitol police.
"At no time did I ask for any special consideration," he said. "I simply complied with what the officers asked me to do."
Kennedy, the son of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (news, bio, voting record), D-Mass., and his staff declined to discuss any further details of the accident. The congressman took part in House votes Thursday.
Capitol Police did not immediately return phone calls for comment. They issued a one-line statement saying they were investigating a traffic violation that occurred early in the morning at that location.
Baird wrote McGaffin that two sergeants who responded to the accident conferred with the watch commander and were ordered to leave the scene.
He said that after the officers left, Capitol Police officials gave Kennedy a ride home.
Kennedy spent time at a drug rehabilitation clinic before he went to Providence College. He has been open about mental health issues, including being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
___
Associated Press writer Laurie Kellman contributed to this report.
Young Kennedy Keeps up Famoily Tradition
The Boston Herald ^ | 2/29/2004 | Howie Carr
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1087829/posts
You or me at 3 a.m. in same situation :
" Officer ...I was on my way to the library to return some books after having taken prescribed amounts of Phenergan , Ambien, and another prescribed drug that I occasionally take to fall asleep. I consumed no alcohol prior to the incident...Some time around 2:45 a.m., I drove the few blocks to the public library believing it was 11 a.m. in the morning . Apparently, I was disoriented from the medication. "
The clink of cold , steel doors echoes in the night ...
Oh, but didn't you know he's now a victim? How long before he demands the FDA to investigate Ambien?
You'd think with about 18 hours, he could come up with a credible story instead of this crap.
Name one other Dem with Bipolar besides Ted Turner.Ted Turner has acknowledged that he has Bipolar disorder.
How long did it take the Rats to accuse Cheney of being drunk when he shot the hunting buddy?
Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters
How long did it take the Rats to accuse Cheney of being drunk when he shot the hunting buddy?
Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters
I find it astounding that a diagnosis of bi-polar does not disqualify one from serving in Congress.
Kennedy Crashes Car Near Capitol
Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) crashed his car near the U.S. Capitol, and a police official said he appeared intoxicated. Kennedy said he was rushing to cast what he hoped would be a decisive vote on a matter of great importance.
Kennedy issued a statement after a volley of news reports stirred interest in the crash. "It is alleged that I was involved in a traffic accident at First and C Street SE near the U.S. Capitol," Kennedy said in his statement. "It has not been conclusively determined whether I was in the vehicle much
less driving it. There is no evidence that I consumed alcohol prior to the incident. I'm working with my lawyers to find the truth."
Kennedy's father, Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) asserted that his son was the target of a rightwing witch hunt. "The same administration that is torturing prisoners of war has set its sights on my son," Kennedy complained. "When
police brought him home he had panties on his head and a dog collar around his neck. This is the Bush MO. I am more determined than ever to see this bastard impeached."
A letter written by a Capitol Police officer Greg Baird to Acting Chief Christopher McGaffin said Kennedy appeared to be staggering when he left the vehicle after the 3 a.m. crash. "Representative Kennedy said he was late for a vote," Baird said. "He kept saying he had to vote for Katharine. But the Capitol was dark and no meetings were in session."
Speculation is that it was Katharine McPhee that the young Kennedy was mumbling about. Ms. McPhee is a contestant on the "American Idol" television show.
Kennedy spent time at a drug rehabilitation clinic before he went to Providence College. He has been open about his mental health issues, including the revelation that he has been diagnosed with "moonbat" disorder.
read more at...
http://www.azconservative.org/Semmens1.htm
Karl Rove slipped him a mickey.
Yes, I just about fell over when I heard Charles say that! LOL
I was commenting on post 125.
you know, driving under the influence has the potential to hurt dozens of people, whether directly or indirectly.
but even scarier is that this elected official (and his daddy) are VOTING under the influence, which is harming an entire nation!
I bet the only reason Bush doesn't want the democrats to win the next presidential election is he knows that he'll be blamed no matter what.
Excellent tirade, but you forgot to mention a certain US Senator "from" the Great State of New York!
Wow -that's great! Only issue - everyone of those bottles ought to be the Swimmer's favorite: Chivas ...
Sleep medicine plus a bottle of whiskey is surely a bad combo. Good thing for him that he is among the protected class, who don't have to obey the same rules as the rest of us.
" Officer ...I was on my way to the library to return some books after having taken prescribed amounts of Phenergan , Ambien, and another prescribed drug that I occasionally take to fall asleep. I consumed no alcohol prior to the incident...Some time around 2:45 a.m., I drove the few blocks to the public library believing it was 11 a.m. in the morning . Apparently, I was disoriented from the medication. "
The expression of said officer as you are explaining: 
The clink of cold , steel doors echoes in the night ...
Horsecrap.
He was drunk, he got home, you can bet he is drinking gallons of water trying to completely detox his blood of alcohol and blaming some prescribed medications for his problem.
He he was a member of the general public they would have frogmarched him to the station for a breath-test.
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