U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D, RI) Crashes Car But Gets VIP Treatment From D.C. Police

Free Republic has the story of what happened to Patrick Kennedy (Teddy's son) early this morning. It's a small matter but had this happened to a Republican, particularly one with a name of similar repute, it would have been all over the news.

Here is the core of the story,

According to a letter sent by Officer Greg Baird, acting chairman of the (U.S. Capitol Police Union), the wreck took place at approximately 2:45 a.m. Thursday when Kennedy’s car, operating with its running lights turned off, narrowly missed colliding with a Capitol Police cruiser and smashed into a security barricade at First and C streets Southeast.

“The driver exited the vehicle and he was observed to be staggering,” Baird’s letter states. Officers approached the driver, who “declared to them he was a Congressman and was late to a vote. The House had adjourned nearly three hours before this incident. It was Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy from Rhode Island.”

Baird wrote that Capitol Police Patrol Division units, who are trained in driving under the influence cases, were not allowed to perform basic field sobriety tests on the Congressman. Instead, two sergeants, who also responded to the accident, proceeded to confer with the Capitol Police watch commander on duty and then “ordered all of the Patrol Division Units to leave the scene and that they were taking over.”

Baird said he had been advised that after the officers departed, Capitol Police “House Division officials” gave Kennedy a ride home.

Kennedy’s office did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Keep an eye out for the media's coverage of this story. There is a hook, of course, and that is, whether sober or not, Kennedy lied to officers about a pending congressional vote. He could be charged with "Lying to a police officer and obstruction of an investigation."

Interestingly, this same Kennedy was in another fender-bender last month on April 15 in Rhode Island. The details of this accident can be found here. This incident was also covered up by police, who did not release the accident report to the public record as required by law.

The photo at the top of this post shows the note Kennedy wrote for the RI police, describing what had happened. Does this seem like the writing of someone who is clear-headed and in full control of his physical (or mental?) functions? You can click on it to make it larger for a better view. Better yet, you can click here are see the full police report from April 15.

In the end we should not be angry at Patrick Kennedy but with the police who seem intent on allowing him to keep driving until he kills someone.