Posted on 05/05/2006 1:49:54 AM PDT by beaversmom
WASHINGTON - Rep. Patrick Kennedy wrecked his car in an early morning accident on Capitol Hill Thursday, and police say supervisors stopped them from giving him a sobriety test.
Two police union officials, who were not at the scene, complained that the Rhode Island congressman and son of Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., looked like he'd been drinking after crashing into a barrier near the Capitol building at 2:45 a.m.
"The driver exited the vehicle and he was observed to be staggering," Officer Greg Baird, the acting head of the Capitol police union, wrote in a letter to his boss, according to the newspaper Roll Call.
Lou Cannon, president of the Washington chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police, said Kennedy looked intoxicated.
"It's my understanding that he had an odor of alcohol about him and he was unsteady on his feet," Cannon said.
Kennedy, who has a history of substance abuse and depression, admitted to the car accident, but denied he had been drinking.
"I was involved in a traffic incident last night," said the 38-year-old. "I consumed no alcohol prior to the incident. I will fully cooperate with the Capitol Police in whatever investigation they choose to undertake."
Late Thursday night, Kennedy put out a second statement saying he had taken sleep medication and a prescription anti-nausea drug that can cause drowsiness.
Baird complained in his letter to acting Capitol police Chief Christopher McGaffin that Kennedy and a pair of sergeants thwarted any proper investigation.
When cops first approached, he "declared to them he was a Congressman and was late to a vote," Baird's letter says. "The House had adjourned nearly three hours before this incident."
It was unclear if Kennedy raised the voting issue intentionally to avoid being detained and tested, because Capitol Hill lawmakers get a legal...
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
"He admitted in 2000 that he was a mental health advocate because he had wrestled with depression since he was a teenager - and that led him to abuse cocaine."
"He told a crowd in Woonsocket, R.I, that he regularly talks to a psychiatrist and takes anti-depressants. "I myself have suffered from depression, I have been treated by psychiatrists," Kennedy said."
And people not only voted for, but elected this guy!
Was he seen drinking at the Hawk and Dove on the night of the accident ?
Why is nobody asking why this guy is driving around after taking sleeping pills?
They are prolife, Catholic and very active in the church. They vote for a pro choice arrogant drunkard. His problems are well known to the citizens of Rhode Island and they keep on electing him. He is a Kennedy. When you are a Kennedy in New England, you are forgiven and elected. The people that elect Kennedy's with mulitiple mental and social problems will never change.
You can expect Patrick to have a media event and announce he will enter rehab. I would say it will be within the week.
Pills AND alcohol.
Sadly, that's what it all seems to be about.
The rep's job is to increase the share of bacon that our state gets.
I, me, mine, I, me, mine, I, me, mine.
"Now everybody reading this here on FR knows this would be front page news and a large scandal if it were any Republican.
Since its a D-rat the MSM says "Nothing to see here, move along."
Not sure where you live but it looks like to me it's being treated as front page news. All over the morning shows. Page 1 in the Wapost and a fair size story on CNN. In fact, I'd argue some news outlets are blowing it out of proportion. Congress critters are getting away with a lot more damaging stuff than a single-car accident with a barrier, possibly while drunk.
Don't know about DC but lying to a cop--or 'false reporting'--is a crime in most states.
Patches knows he's immune from arrest while traveling to the House to vote.
Yes, but he is disputing the alcohol. I think the truth on that one will come out. Even the MSM will hunt down the facts there - they have to or lose even more of their credibility. But driving around after taking sleeping medication - even on it's own without the alcohol or other meds - that bad enough on its own.
The more basic point: why is Rep. Kennedy driving around at 2:45 in the morning, while doped up on sleeping pills and anti-nausea drugs?
His story, such as it is, does not make sense.
This is nothing but racial profiling........imagine giving a Kennedy a sobriety test??
I thought it was "Scaramouche"
Incidently, wasn't that the name of Carey's speedboat?
You just can't make this stuff up....
The road apple didn't fall far from the horse's a*s!
Their gene pool could use a birt of chlorine..
"bit"
The Kennedy's should all get thumped as soon as they reach for their car keys..
It's clear that a majority of voters in RI and MA believe the state citizens are expendable so long as the Kennedy Lords are kept in power. It's typical behavior with the infectious disease of liberalism.
There is darn good public transportation in DC also.
Too stupid not to know not to drive after taking sleep meds but not to stupid to be a Congressman!
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