Rep. Kennedy denies drinking before accident

The Hill ^ | 5/4/06 | Jackie Kucinich

[Jean S]

Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I) will cooperate with a United States Capitol Police investigation into a traffic incident that occurred  early Thursday morning involving the lawmaker.
       
“I was involved in a traffic incident last night at First and C Street SE near the U.S. Capitol,” Kennedy said in his statement. “I consumed no alcohol prior to the incident.”
       
According to a source close to the Capitol Police, Kennedy crashed his vehicle into a security barrier shortly before 3 a.m.
       
Reports have indicated that Kennedy allegedly told officers who stopped to investigate the accident that he was late for a vote after stepping out from the badly damaged vehicle.
       
A spokeswoman for the Capitol Police could not be immediately reached for comment. But in a statement titled “Traffic Accident” on its website, Capitol Police stated, “The United States Capitol Police are investigating a traffic violation that occurred in the early morning hours on May 4, 2006 in the 100 Block of C Street, SE.”

[eureka!]

"Kennedy allegedly told officers who stopped to investigate the accident that he was late for a vote after stepping out from the badly damaged vehicle."

3 hours after the last vote. I see 2 counts: (1) false statement and (2) obstruction of justice. *crickets*

[steveo]

snffff...

[Thebaddog]

Late for a vote at Scores at 3am. He was trying for the federal exemption if he's doing guvmint bidness.

[MichiganConservative]

Kennedy denies drinking before accident

Well, glad that's all cleared up.

[laconic]

He was "late for a vote" at THREE OCLOCK IN THE MORNING? Sounds like he was either disoriented or he's claiming legislative privilege for bad behavior. Kennedys and Cars, a bad mix.

[paul51]

Did they give him any kind of sobriety tests?

[SandRat]

The Kennedy Klan!!! The Foster Brooks' of Politics! HIC!!!

[headstamp]

“I was involved in a traffic incident last night at First and C Street SE near the U.S. Capitol,” Kennedy said in his statement. “I consumed no alcohol prior to the incident.”


Funny how no mention is made of his other recent, ahem, "accident".

It's too late now as he was not given a field sobriety test at the time. He may have not been drinking but maybe it's drug related.

[Baynative]

The next morning the car and the girl’s body were found. When Kennedy finally completed an accident report, he didn’t even know her name, referring to her simply as "Miss Mary."

Oopps - wrong Kennedy. My mistake.

[Dog Gone]

“I consumed no alcohol prior to the incident.”

He'd better hope that nobody contradicts him with eyewitness accounts.

I wonder how he explains that he was on his way to cast a vote shortly after the bars closed and Congress was already closed.

[tobyhill]

Bingo! They could get him on that but it seems the Capital Police are just walking on egg shells afraid of bringing any charges to any Democrat. Even the Congress Animal McKinney doesn't get charged after hitting a police officer.

[TomGuy]

Kennedy allegedly told officers who stopped to investigate the accident that he was late for a vote

That should be easy to verify. Was the House in session at 2:45 a.m.?

If the vote was so important, why was Rep. Kennedy out driving around at that hour of the morning?

[paul51]

It's too late now as he was not given a field sobriety test at the time

I keep forgetting, those silly tests are for the little people

[Chickensoup]

One of the amazing things about the Kennedys are what liars they were.

[headstamp]

The story goes that two higher officers from the Capitol police arrived at the scene and instructed the other investigating officers to leave and prevented a test from being given. The two higher ups then drove him home.

[downtownconservative]

“I consumed no alcohol prior to the incident.”


That depends on the what the definition of the words "prior to" is.

[SteveMcKing]

"He'd better hope that nobody contradicts him with eyewitness accounts."

In 2006, it is possible that his entire evening was recorded on video.

[paul51]

That should be easy to verify. Was the House in session at 2:45 a.m.?

'I'm late for a vote' (especially at 3 AM) is just code for, 'don't bother me, I'm important'

[headstamp]

Easy, he is a Kennedy. No other explanations are necessary. If it was Bush the media would be going back decades to find something to tie to the current incident. This guy just got into an accident in RI.

[tobyhill]

I'd like to know if there was any open containers in his vehicle? I'm not sure about DC law but here in Texas that's a crime.

[pnut22]

Don't think he needs to worry much. Nobody ever seems to rat out a rat.

[vox_freedom]

OK, no alcohol.
What about drugs, Patrick?
Take any of those prior to your crash into the security barrier while driving at 2:45 in the morning without lights on?

How is it these Kennedys can get away with crap like this?

[KarlInOhio]

Did they give him any kind of sobriety tests?

According to Drudge Report the chairman of the Capitol Police FOP said that the Patrol Division units which pulled him over were not allowed to perform the sobriety test and a couple of sergeants called their watch commander and ordered all the other cops away from the scene.

[Doe Eyes]

3 hours after the last vote.

What's the problem? He said he was late.

[surely_you_jest]

The Kennedy's just can't seem to hold their liquor. Father, mother, son - a family of genetically pre-disposed alkies. No pride either, apparently.

[mtbopfuyn]

Must run in the genes.

[Dante3]

I would like to know the names of those two higher officers who made sure a Kennedy is above the law.

[Quick Shot]

Some real investigative reporting could get to the bottom of this. He's dumb enough to leave a giant trail. First what were the official parties last night, second what are his regular hang-outs, what was he doing going to an office building at 3:00. Should not take much time to figure out where he had been.

Or maybe some brave reporter is willing to ask the simple question, where were you and where were you going, if you remember....

[idkfa]

Check out Kennedy's handwriting from an accident report 2 weeks ago!

Full police report here

[Cowboy Bob]

Rep. Kennedy denies drinking before accident

I noticed he didn't deny being on drugs!

[eureka!]

Re#12 There is a grand jury. Time will tell...

[TheConservator]

They should be summarily fired.

[builder]

I consumed no alcohol prior to the incident.

Out and out blatant LIE.He has been seen drinking before,in earlier years.They were prior to the incident.So, he lied.

[democratic sarc /rant]

He lied to us ; impeach him! Why did it take so long to notify us,why did it take the police to contact the media?Impeach him,He's a drunk,impeach him.He comes from a corrupt family,impeach him.He comes from the party of corruption,impeach him.He is too dangerous to others,impeach him.[fellow Dems--chirp, chirp,the sound of silence]

[tobyhill]

If they haven't charged McKinney by now with all the evidence available and witnesses then it ain't a goin to happen.

[Sender]

Just keep repeating:

Kennedy
drinking
car wreck...

[NonValueAdded]

But the Senator Representative, while insisting he was not intoxicated, could not explain his nudity.

OK, so he wasn't nude but the WKRP flashback is pretty cool.

[albee]

"... Kennedys and Cars, a bad mix."

Not to mention skis and airplanes.

[meyer]

Man, I'd love to have been the bartender at his previous "alleged" destination. Then again, I'd likely be a victim of Arkancide by now if I were. We can't have damaging testimony from "the little people".

[elcid1970]

Those two higher officers are probably a lot more afraid of The Swimmer Himself than they are of any investigative reporting or in-house inquiry.

[SlothB77]

Kennedy appeared to be intoxicated when he crashed his car 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.

-----

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.

[caryatid]

Kennedys and Cars life a bad mix.

[abigailsmybaby]

"I consumed it during and after."

[Howlin]

Um, voting at 3 a.m.?

[SlothB77]

Note: the District of Columbia is awash in red-light and speed monitoring cameras. Second, many patrol cars are equipped with front dashboard cameras. If these guys have tape of the staggering Kennedy, . . . think Spike TV Worlds Worst Police Crashes show.

[shhrubbery!]

“I consumed no alcohol prior to the incident.”

Truly a Clintonian statement.

How long "prior to the incident" were you "consuming no alcohol," Congressman?

Two hours? One hour? Five minutes?

[Dante3]

Probably true. Kennedy seemed during Senate hearings like he is loosing it mentally. Such hatred. And him holding up passage of laws tough on pedophiles makes me wonder . . .

[eureka!]

Re#15 Yep.

[eureka!]

Re#25 LOL. That he did....

[SES1066]

I could have sworn that there is something in the US Constitution forbidding royalty/nobility etc., but then we have the Kennedys - America's answer to the Widsors - without the nobility. I predict an early visit to the Betty Ford Clinic or some other such for personal difficulties. Remember this poor boy has lost so many family members, it is quite traumatic. He must be understood as a victim of circumstances. It was probably a Republican Lobbyist that slipped him a mickey while he was trying to persuade said lobbyist to return to the Irish side of the force!