Posted on 05/06/2006 12:34:01 AM PDT by CellPhoneSurfer
Capitol police investigate motive behind story By Casey Ross Saturday, May 6, 2006 - Updated: 02:16 AM EST
Police are investigating whether U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy’s bizarre crash-scene story about being late for a 2:45 a.m. vote was a desperate attempt to escape an OUI bust by invoking a law that prevents members of Congress from being arrested while en route to formal sessions, authorities said.
Kennedy, who yesterday admitted an addiction to prescription pain medication, told officers upon emerging from his Mustang convertible Thursday morning that he was “late for a vote,” even though formal business had ended hours earlier, according to a police statement.
“There are a lot of different thoughts as to why he said that,” Capitol police officer Mike Killough said. “We’re looking into what he stated and what other people have to say about what he did that night.”
Killough said police are careful to observe a provision contained in the U.S. Constitution that protects members of Congress against arrest while traveling to and from formal sessions.
The constitutional provision includes exceptions for “felony or breach of peace” - which could apply to Kennedy’s actions, depending on what investigators find - but Killough said cops typically use restraint when Congress is in session.
“You can always take appropriate action afterward, and we have in the past,” he said.
A hostess at the Hawk ’n’ Dove bar, a popular Capitol Hill watering hole, told the Herald that Kennedy was drinking in the hours before cops say they watched his Mustang swerve eratically, nearly hit a police cruiser and smash into a concrete security barricade.
Kennedy said he did not drink alcohol before the accident and instead blamed his actions on a reaction to the sleep medication Ambien and a gastroenteritis drug called Phenergan.
After initially saying he got behind the wheel because he was disoriented and believed he needed to vote, Kennedy said yesterday he has no memory of getting out of bed or crashing his car.
Conflicting statements
U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy (D-R.I.) seemed to remember a good bit about his Thursday morning car accident on Thursday evening. But by Friday afternoon, his memory was failing.
THURSDAY: “Following the last series of votes on Wednesday evening, I returned to my home on Capitol Hill and took the prescribed amount of Phenergan and Ambien, . . .Some time around 2:45 a.m., I drove the few blocks to the Capitol complex believing I needed to vote. Apparently, I was disoriented from the medication. At that time, I was involved in a one-car incident in which my car hit the security barrier at the corner of 1st and C St., SE.”
“At the time of the accident, I was instructed to park my car and was driven home by the United States Capitol Police. At no time did I ask for any special consideration, I simply complied with what the officers asked me to do.”
FRIDAY: “I simply do not remember getting out of bed, being pulled over by the police or being cited for three driving infractions. That’s not how I want to live my life. And that’s not how I want to represent the people of Rhode Island.”
I'm sure someone's already asked this question: If Patches told the Police he was late for a vote and they believed that statement, why did they then drive him home and not to his office?
"A hostess at the Hawk ’n’ Dove bar, a popular Capitol Hill watering hole, told the Herald that Kennedy was drinking in the hours before cops say they watched his Mustang swerve eratically, nearly hit a police cruiser and smash into a concrete security barricade."
I'll bet the Hawk 'n' Dove has cameras in the bar and the dining area, if Kennedy was there he'll be on the tapes.
The Hawk & Dove closes at 2AM on weeknights. I would surmise to say he stayed til closing, then spent a while trying to convince a bar sweetie to get into a car with a drunk Kennedy. That timeline would put him hitting the barrier at about 2:45AM.
Mag: Ted K’s secret love child a secret no more
By Gayle Fee and Laura Raposa
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
The National Enquirer splashes this week with a shocking story about Sen. Ted Kennedy’s secret love child with a Cape Cod woman whom the mag says he dated during his days as a swinging single.
According to the tabloid’s source, the boy, named Christopher, just celebrated his 21st birthday...
uh..ummmm...Harvard maybe?
Typical lying, manipulative, deceit-filled, drunken politician, and a Democrat as all would expect. Wonder what Wilbur is thinking wherever he is now?
According the the RI Conservative blog Anchor Rising (which is worth bookmarking if you're local), some guy named Ed Leather, a former foreign service officer, is throwing his hat in the ring. His kickoff is on May 27, so it's not widely known.
I had a thought, though. What you want to bet if the GOP does get behind this guy, the DNC will whine about the evil, opportunistic Republicans picking on poor Patrick, kicking a mentally ill guy when he's down. Why, they never supported a GOP candidate before this, did they?
Excellent deduction, I concur, and I still bet they have him on the security tapes.
"some guy named Ed Leather, a former foreign service officer"
That's a great name, he sounds like a tough guy!
All the dims do is whine and moan and play the victim card, so what difference will it make?
The way to play it would, of course, be to let that part of the story go unmentioned and just take Kennedy on on the issues, etc. He's been revealed as a stuporous man in need of serious help, that speaks for itself (and good luck to him, sincerely), any person who wants someone like that representing them, well, what can I say?
I live in NJ, look at the losers we elect!
uh..ummmm...Harvard maybe?
- - -
Ah yes, one of the ivy league U's which has long forsaken it's solid founding as a quality . . .
drum roll . . .
Bible school.
Patchaquiddick ping!
Nancy Pelosi is going to be on one of the Sunday morning talk shows. You can bet she has her spit and spin already memorized. She'll be [gently] asked if Patrick Kennedy's troubles aren't a part of "the culture of corruption". She will say many many fine Americans have problems with prescription drugs, this is Patrick's personal problem and he's courageously fighting it, and taking responsibility for his actions. She will say Patrick's problem is nothing like Abrahamoff and Duke Cunningham a gazillion times, blaming the RNC for allowing them to corrupt the culture.
Nevermind Cynthia McKinney and New Orleans Congressman Jefferson who is probably going to get indicted this week. But if someone brings them up, Pelosi will cut them loose like a hot knife through buttah!
Patchaquiddick ping!
&&
Love it!
Excellent deduction, I concur, and I still bet they have him on the security tapes.
&&&
$50 says the security tapes are mysteriously erased.
Besides, the Ambien made him drink and drive and caused him to do anything else he should not have done.
Home schooling. Patrick just watched his daddy.
Good catch. No, I hadn't considered that. :)
This is probably part of their basic training when they get to DC. No matter what happens, they announce "I'm late for a vote" and they get off free. Sort of like "diplomatic immunity".
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