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Capitol police investigate motive behind story [Patrick Kennedy + conflicting statements]
Boston Herald ^ | May 6, 2006 | Casey Ross

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.”


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Rhode Island
KEYWORDS: 109th; capitolpolice; dc; dui; patchaquiddick; patches; patrickkennedy; ratcrime; specialtreatment
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To: SkyPilot

So if there is a law that says the police can't arrest an indiidual under the influence...if the guy is going to vote in cong ress...shouldn't we be asking how he could vote...in a DUI-state...in congress? Someone needs to ask serious questions here.


81 posted on 05/06/2006 11:01:01 AM PDT by pepsionice
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To: Wristpin

I'm betting there WAS someone with him in the car. There are likely cameras all over the place in this area. Patrick's monologue was just a cover tactic to give the Dems enough time to destroy evidence and threaten people. It puts the press at the feet of Patrick and away from the "real story".


82 posted on 05/06/2006 11:02:01 AM PDT by Sacajaweau (God Bless Our Troops!!)
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To: ozzymandus
He should get a DUI regardless.

Kennedy:
1) Was driving with his headlights off at 2:45 a.m.
2) Swerved into oncoming traffic, almost sideswiped a police cruiser, and crashed into a security barrier.
3) Was observed staggering after he exited his vehicle.
4) Smelled of alcohol.
5) Lied about being "late for a vote".
6) Lied about not having had alcohol,
7) Was seen drinking at one or two bars earlier in the evening.

I'd say that the above facts sufficiently form the basis of a case. I'm sure that the two sergeants who drove him home could provide testimony that would ice the case. No need for any test results.

83 posted on 05/06/2006 11:02:11 AM PDT by Mad_Tom_Rackham (Every vote for a Democrat is a vote for $10/gallon gas.)
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To: pepsionice

I'm sure that like every law, there are "precedents" which aren't being mentioned.


84 posted on 05/06/2006 11:04:09 AM PDT by Sacajaweau (God Bless Our Troops!!)
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To: Cementjungle
"I agree, but unfortunately there's no physical proof of intoxication"

And why isn't there physical proof?

The "impaired" box was checked off on the occurrance report yet no breathalyzer was administered.

Imagine that happening in your town to you or your friends.

Imagine anyone in your town giving the appearance of being impaired as he climbs out of an accident vehicle in the presence of a constable and having a police NCO sending the constable on about his other duties and giving the subject of the investigation a ride home in a police vehicle, without administering a breathalyzer.

85 posted on 05/06/2006 11:20:52 AM PDT by Clive
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To: Mad_Tom_Rackham
We are going about this the wrong way.

Let's give Kennedy a pass.

He is, after all, a Kennedy, which means that he is part of America's unimpeachable nobility.

Instead, let's go after the coppers. They don't have the Kennedy impunity.

Let's sic MADD on them.

86 posted on 05/06/2006 11:27:11 AM PDT by Clive
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To: JustaDumbBlonde

With ego and blubber as big as Scuba Teddy, I bet it would have been hard NOT to have watched him. Though, passed out on the floor is not all that entertaining viewing material.


87 posted on 05/06/2006 11:32:45 AM PDT by Quix ( PREPARE . . . PRAY . . . PLACE your trust, hope, faith and life in God's hands moment by moment)
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To: Bigg Red

"Besides, the Ambien made him drink and drive and caused him to do anything else he should not have done."

Now that the the witnesses arecoming out with the fact that his was seen drinking at a bar, the spinners will claim

"He was sleep-drinking."


88 posted on 05/06/2006 12:04:15 PM PDT by Wristpin ("The Yankees announce plan to buy every player in Baseball....")
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To: nutmeg; CellPhoneSurfer
Don't forget the "Good Friday" Kennedy Rapes -- Curse to Bear,A new account of Ted Kennedy’s Palm Beach adventure(Good Friday,Ted's 15th Annv.)

89 posted on 05/06/2006 2:26:05 PM PDT by Coleus (I Support Research using the Ethical, Effective and Moral use of stem cells: non-embryonic)
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To: foolscap

Yes.


90 posted on 05/06/2006 4:15:41 PM PDT by Arizona Carolyn
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To: Wristpin

sleep-drinking

**
You're too clever. :-)


91 posted on 05/06/2006 5:22:58 PM PDT by Bigg Red (Never trust Democrats with national security.)
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To: prion
I totally agree with you. It's not the voters of Massachusetts that are letting the GOP down. It's the GOP who is letting the voters of Massachusetts down.

The GOP has written off Massachusetts for years and the false notion that Massachusetts is a hopelessly liberal state becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The fact is that this state is ripe for the taking if only the GOP would put up a fight and run some candidates. We've been electing GOP governors since 1990 but our bench (which was never strong to begin with) is running dry. In fact, we would have lost the Governorship in 2002 if not for the fact that Mitt Romney came to the rescue from Utah. Now that Mitt has evidently decided to run for president, there is pretty much nobody who can save us from the Democrats taking over in November. And if the Democrats win, it will be by default. The state convention the GOP just had here was a joke. The convention hall was half empty and there was no excitement at all to nominate Mitt Romney's successor. Whenever I go to vote, it is discouraging because at the local level, there are constantly Democrats running unopposed. I leave those races blank but it's an empty gesture.

Even though conservatives have been hung out to dry up here by the national GOP, we still turn out and give at least 40% of the vote for whoever the GOP is running in a particular race. All it would take is a little effort to tip the scales in the other direction.

92 posted on 05/06/2006 5:37:56 PM PDT by SamAdams76 (I think Randy Travis must be paying his bills on home computer by now)
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To: endthematrix

Did the police report specify if he was fully dressed or if he had pajamas on? Surely this would be an indication of whether he had just gotten out of bed and was driving.


93 posted on 05/06/2006 5:49:35 PM PDT by MissP-38
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To: csvset

Roughly two and a half to three blocks. And the last street is narrow. The officer was lucky to avoid the rat bastard.


94 posted on 05/06/2006 7:08:49 PM PDT by Doctor Raoul (Liberals saying "We Support The Troops" is like OJ looking for the real killers.)
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To: csvset

Was that some kind of "Bar Fly Ping" ?


95 posted on 05/06/2006 7:21:27 PM PDT by Doctor Raoul (Liberals saying "We Support The Troops" is like OJ looking for the real killers.)
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To: csvset
Home, bar and scene of the crime are all within a few blocks.

Home and bar are closest.

96 posted on 05/06/2006 7:23:07 PM PDT by Doctor Raoul (Liberals saying "We Support The Troops" is like OJ looking for the real killers.)
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To: SkyPilot

Howdy Doody's Mom...
97 posted on 05/06/2006 7:29:03 PM PDT by Doctor Raoul (Liberals saying "We Support The Troops" is like OJ looking for the real killers.)
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To: nutmeg

BTTT


98 posted on 05/07/2006 9:51:48 AM PDT by Deetes (God Bless the Troops)
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To: laconic

.........all what you said...and just think ....they can BUY IT IN A BOTTLE !!


99 posted on 05/07/2006 10:17:34 AM PDT by Neenah
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