Well, lots more on Patrick Kennedy overnight. Michelle notes that this is the second car accident that Kennedy has been in lately. However, no indication at all in that accident report - either from the police or the other driver - that Kennedy appeared to be driving impaired.
Kennedy claims that he was taking medication prescribed by the Physician of the Capitol for gastroenteritis, including ambien and phenergan. Expect the Phyisican to be called upon for confirmation. He says the disorientation led him to think the House had a vote:
Kennedy Blames Accident on Medication
Thursday, May 4; 10:18 pm
By John McArdle,
Roll Call Staff
While Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) blamed his early-morning car accident on the interaction between two drugs he had been prescribed, Capitol Police have agreed to a labor union request that officers complete an investigation of the incident.
"Last Tuesday, the Attending Physician of the United States Congress treated me for Gastroenteritis,” a stomach illness. According to Kennedy, the attending physician prescribed Phenergan, an anti-nausea medication, which in addition to treating gastroenteritis, “I now know [it] can cause drowsiness and sedation.”
“Following the last series of votes Wednesday evening, I returned to my home on Capitol Hill and took the prescribed amount of Phenergan and Ambien, which was also prescribed by the Attending Physician some time ago and I occasionally take to fall asleep. Some time around 2:45am, 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 no time before the incident did I consume any alcohol.”
Kennedy says he requested no special treatment, but the acting chairman of the US Capitol division of the Fraternal Order of Police wants further investigation:
[FOP Chair] Baird said he had been advised that after the officers departed, Capitol Police “House Division officials” gave Kennedy a ride home.
“Apparently, I was disoriented from the medication,” Kennedy said. Kennedy said that after the accident he was instructed to park his car and was driven home by Capitol Police.
“At no time did I ask for any special consideration, I simply complied with what the officers asked me to do.” In a statement from Kennedy’s spokeswoman earlier this evening, the Congressman said he would fully cooperate with the Capitol Police in whatever investigation they choose to undertake.
“If the events unfolded as they have been reported to me, and I believe they did, a complete and immediate investigation into them is required,” Baird wrote to McGaffin. Baird asked the acting chief why officers on the scene were prevented from completing the appropriate investigation “into violations of law they witnessed. This appears to be interference with their duties as U.S. Capitol Police Officers and may have prevented the collection of evidence of such violations."
“My members were attempting to carry out their duties with the professionalism and objectivity their oaths require. They should have been assisted in those duties by every level of supervision and command. Instead these circumstances call the integrity of our organization into question by creating the appearance of special favor for someone who is perceived to be privileged and powerful,” Baird wrote.
Meanwhile, Lou Cannon - President of the Washington chapter of the FOP, says that Kennedy had alcohol on his breath:
He [Kennedy] said he returned to his Capitol Hill home on Wednesday evening after a series of votes in Congress and took prescribed amounts of Phenergan and Ambien, another prescribed drug that he occasionally takes to fall asleep.
''Some time around 2:45 a.m., I drove the few blocks to the Capitol Complex believing I needed to vote," his second statement said. ''Apparently, I was disoriented from the medication."
But Lou Cannon, president of the Fraternal Order of Police union that represents the Capitol Police, said last night that officers ''noted an odor of alcohol and that [Kennedy] appeared to be intoxicated." Cannon was not on the scene, but received verbal reports from Capitol Police officers who had talked to the officers who were at the accident site.
Odd that Kennedy did not realize until now that the two drugs prescribed could cause 'drowsiness and sedation.' Rather irresponsible of the Capitol Physician not to warn him about that, isn't it?
Update: Took me a little while to notice this Boston Herald piece saying a waitress at the Hawk and Dove, a popular Capitol Hill dive, saw him drinking Wednesday night.
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