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.
When taken in the correct dosage?
2:45 AM....
not long after the bars close....
One law for the people and another for the lawmakers.
Sorry I spoiled your breakfast.
But with all the obesity bills going on these days, I was just doing my part in stemming food consumption LOL! Just remember not to let your children drink Diet Coke. It will make them fat. And that's a fact. All the fat people I know drink Diet Coke.
http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=137995&format=text
" "He was drinking a little bit," said the woman, who works at the Hawk & Dove and would not give her name. "
Lately there are anecdotal reports of people binge-eating
while taking ambien, but people can do lots of things
under the influence of the "sleepers" of all
chemical persuasions. So it would not be ruled out.
But he needs proof that he had Ambien
"on board"..I would guess that a good analytical lab
could measure out "nano" amounts from a tissue sample.
Sounds like the Kennedy's have a drinking and functioning
problem. Camelot is gone, substituted by "The days of
wine and roses"
I wish there was a blog where they (the Capitol Police) could post anonymously all the hypocritical acts they witness of our elected representives .
I believe that Howie Carr (popular Boston afternoon drive-time talk host, and author of the factastic "the Brothers Bulger") was talking about another Patches accident over a week ago -- this one in RI.
Classic Kennedy Crime Family response, from senile (now dead) Rose on down, "Do you know who I am?" -- so far it works for everything up to murder, as long as you're not too far from the Kennedy bloodline.
The best Kennedy family story is probably how old Joe had his retarded daughter lobotomized and turned into a vegetable, pretty much just to show her who was boss. These are personally corrupt and cruel people, even in the generations that aren't more inbred than pakistani mountain villagers.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
ZZ TOP!!!!
Album: Tejas (1976)
Track # 2
EXACTLY!!
What pray-tell is the difference? Use of drugs [legal or illegal] or alcohol in the operation of a motor vehicle are BOTH violations.
Why is his admitted use of "DRUGS" rather than alcohol somehow a MITIGATING factor?
His constituents should be livid. Here is a Rep who ADMITTEDLY is using mind altering drugs, gets behind the wheel of a car and heads to CONGRESS to VOTE on a bill!!!!!!!!
Unbelievable!!
Very few people use Phenergan for allergies anymore.
They have essentially been replaced by the the relatively
non sedating medications Allegra and Claritin.
Typical Kennedy calculated explanation.
But then, when you're "for the people" you do nothing wrong.
Right?
Also, I believe using any chemical, especially known ones
which can cause drowsiness, and impaired body mechanical
function, can be considered "driving under the influence"
So, just take your lumps, Kennedy buffoon no. 23, and
be thankful no one got hurt.
Geeee,,,,I wonder if any of the police officers involved were democrats? Nahhhh....no way, not in DC. Never mind.
I have got to rant. Forgive and thank you for indulging.
Where the hell are the Republicans? For if this were, say, Frist, Howie Dean would be foaming at the mouth, Pelosi would be going on about the culture of corruption, Al Sharpton would have some fine comments.
Seems to me the Repubs could send out a spokesperson who could suggest softly, in the spirit of compassionate conservatism, that perhaps Mr. Kennedy needs help.
They beat the hell out of Rush Limbaugh who's been clean for three years then charge him thirty grand for "investigative costs.
But oh no, let it be a Kennedy who CONTINUALLY breaks the law and all is silent.
I am so sick, so very, very sick, of these hypocrites. And they don't even have an ethics committee anymore because hey, THEY are congress critters. They are waaaaaay better than thou and I.
It's time, I must get down on my knees, but dear Lord, it's time we GET RID OF THESE KENNEDYS! They KILL people! Next it will be my precious granddaughter this Kennedy creep runs into after taking a dose of Ambien.
At WHAT POINT, I beg....at WHAT POINT is ENOUGH ...ENOUGH?
I've been steaming all night about this thing. One of these days, one of these damn days, the middle class of this country is going to get fed up and then we'll all go out and march. Only our crusade will be to throw these jerks out of congress....FIRST TO GO...anybody named Kennedy.
What is that?
Considering how most democrats vote on bills, maybe putting them on 'mind-altering' drugs before they vote--just might not be a bad idea!!!
Lots of remarkable bipolars including many statesmen -- Churchill being the exemplar.
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