I have a new posting up covering additional analysis and reporting since this post.
*** RESUMING ORIGINAL POSTING:
Rep. Patrick Kennedy and his advisors and family are furiously engaged in damage control, as events are continuing to unfold. Kennedy initially submitted a terse statement that alcohol was not involved. A more detailed statement was issued several hours later detailing that he had been taking prescription medications, including Ambien, and that he became disoriented and was driving without realizing the situation.
Okay, there have been other reports of individuals taking Ambien and having incidents not altogether different than what Kennedy experienced. That doesn't excuse the fact that he wasn't completely forthcoming in his first public statement addressing the accident.
The real problem is that officers at the scene initally said that they smelled alcohol on Kennedy's person and that he was staggering about.
And now, we're learning that he may have indeed been drinking:
WASHINGTON -U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy insisted yesterday that he had consumed “no alcohol” before he slammed his Mustang convertible into a concrete barrier near his office, but a hostess at a popular Capitol Hill watering hole told the Herald she saw him drinking in the hours before the crash.However, the manager of the bar said that he didn't see Kennedy on Wednesday, but a bartender at a bar next door "said Kennedy was spotted in the Hawk & Dove Wednesday."
“He was drinking a little bit,” said the woman, who works at the Hawk & Dove and would not give her name.
Leaving his office late last night, Kennedy refused to say whether he’d been to the Hawk & Dove the night before.
All of which still begs the question of why Kennedy was not given sobreity tests after the accident. Kennedy's personal issues aside, one really has to wonder what is going on with the Capitol police.
UPDATE:
Added additional links to Ambien related side effects above. Fausta notes that Kennedy apparently busted out the Constitutional defense when claiming that he was late to a vote on the Hill. There's your get out of jail temporarily card.
Others blogging: Six Meat Buffet, Don Surber, Donkey Stomp, and Interested Participant.
Talk Left also notes the Ambien angle and that Kennedy claims that he received no special treatment. Well, it's possible that he didn't ask for special treatment, but got it nonetheless. And it doesn't address the fact that officers at the scene and some other witnesses point to alcohol being involved.
Texas Rainmaker is among those noting that Kennedy was involved in another car wreck two weeks ago and further notes that the vote comment was made to specifically avoid being arrested. No idea whether alcohol or drugs were involved in the earlier incident, so we can't draw any conclusions at this time other than it being a really bad run of bad luck.
UPDATE:
Leave it to the Smoking Gun to get a hold of the police accident report. Of note is page 2, where ability impaired and alcohol use were checked off. Speed and driving on the wrong side of the street were also involved. The BAC section has a N/A through it. The officers also noted Kennedy's condition as including: "red and watery" eyes and "slightly slurred" speech.
UPDATE:
Rep. Kennedy will be entering drug rehab.
Rep. Patrick Kennedy will enter rehab for addiction to prescription pain medication Friday evening after a highly publicized car crash near the Capitol.
Kennedy, D-R.I., plans to seek treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
The congressman was announcing his decision during a new conference Friday afternoon, then planned to travel to Minnesota later in the day.
Kennedy, who has struggled with addiction and depression, said he had checked into the Mayo Clinic over the Christmas holidays and returned to Congress "reinvigorated and healthy."
"Of course, in every recovery, each day has its ups and downs, but I have been strong, focused and productive since my return," Kennedy said in a statement obtained by The Associated Press.
The congressman said he became concerned about his condition after the Thursday morning car accident.
"I simply do not remember getting out of bed, being pulled over by the police, or being cited for three driving infractions," Kennedy said. "That's not how I want to live my life. And that's not how I want to represent the people of Rhode Island."
The congressman's father, Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., issued a supportive statement in which he said he's proud of his son for admitting his problem and taking steps to correct it.
Prior coverage: Spot the Misconduct.
Technorati: patrick kennedy, misconduct, capitol police, dui.
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