Representative Patrick Kennedy Cover-Up Watch: Kennedy Will Seek Treatment For a Substance Abuse Problem.
Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy(D-RI) acknowledges his addiction and announces plans to seek treatment at Mayo Clinic in a press conference on Capitol Hill a day after crashing his Ford Mustang into a Congress security barrier.
Reuters: Rep Kennedy seeking addiction treatment
U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, son of Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy, on Friday announced he will seek treatment for a substance abuse problem.
“I have been fighting this chronic disease since a young man,” Kennedy said, adding that he will return to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. He said he wanted to continue working for his constituents in Rhode Island.
The announcement came shortly after U.S. Capitol Police reported that the younger Kennedy was charged with “failure to give full time and attention” and “failure to keep in proper lane” after he crashed his car Thursday night into a security barrier near the U.S. Capitol.
The report made no mention of possible alcohol consumption.
Kennedy told reporters he will seek re-election in November. “I need to stay in the fight,” he said.
Kennedy said he had no recollection of Thursday’s crash. “I simply do not remember getting out of bed, being pulled over by the police or being cited for three driving infractions.”
I know nothing, see nothing and simply WILL CHANGE THE SUBJECT to woe is me I am a victim who has a subtance abuse problem.
Notice the fancy change of subject here and no admission of ANY responsibility.
Patrick Kennedy should resign his seat in Congress and get his life in order.
Expose The Left: Kennedy Press Conference: “I Don’t Remember Car Incident At All†(VIDEO)
Kennedy was asked if he is going to resign .. he sternly answers “noâ€.
Michelle Malkin liveblogged:
Major Garrett: He made it clear he has no recollection of driving. Ambien, the medication Kennedy took, has been linked to occasionally causing sleep driving.Major Garrett calls Kennedy’s statement “very artful.†Major reports that Dems may have likely intervened in the last 24 hours to persuade Kennedy to shift the focus of the story.
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Of course, Kennedy has shifted the FOCUS of the story. He has a substance abuse problem and needs to get his life in order.
Kennedy should resign from Congress now. His constituents need a full time representative not one in a rehab clinic.
Michelle Malkin:KENNEDY PRESS CONFERENCE
Via AP, here are the various statements now on the record:
Kennedy’s first statement, released by his press secretary:”I was involved in a traffic incident last night at First and C Street SE near the US Capitol. I consumed no alcohol prior to the incident. I will fully cooperate with the Capitol Police in whatever investigation they choose to undertake.”
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Kennedy’s full written statement:
“Last Tuesday, the Attending Physician of the United States Congress treated me for Gastroenteritis. The Attending Physician prescribed Phenergan, an anti-nausea medication, which in addition to treating Gastroenteritis, I now know can cause drowsiness and sedation.
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, 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.
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.
I have the utmost respect for the United States Capitol Police and the job they do to keep Members of Congress and the Capitol Complex safe. I have contacted the Chief of Capitol Police and offered to meet with police representatives at their earliest convenience as I intend to cooperate fully with any investigation they choose to undertake.”
___
From the Capitol Police on their Web site:
“The United States Capitol Police are continuing to investigate a traffic accident that occurred early Thursday morning, May 4, 2006 at the intersection of 1st and C Street, SE. In addition to determining the existence of any evidence that would support traffic charges, the Department is also reviewing steps taken during the initial accident investigation to ensure compliance with existing policies and procedures.”
More breaking coverage via Breitbart/AP.
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Reader Chuck e-mails:
Why is it that Kennedy will largely get a pass by the press and will be treated with kid gloves and Rush Limbaugh gets excoriated for exactly the same problem? Gee. Do you really think the press is biased? Naw.
Reader RB e-mails:
Well, at least the “addiction” (aka, an “It’s not my fault and I won’t be responsible for my actions” excuse) may explain why he was going to the CVS on 15 Apr when he had an accident.
Unanswered questions:
Who has prescribed drugs for Pat? When? For what? How many?
Was he “on drugs” when he had the 15 Apr 06 accident?
Why hasn’t the media picked up on the 15 Apr 06 accident?
Two accidents in two weeks under similar circumstances – how much does it take for Pat to get a clue?
Did the physician(s) review his current prescriptions for possible interactions? Did they brief Pat on the effects? Were the medications properly labeled? Can Pat even read?
But, why did the folks at Hawk & Dove say Kennedy was drinking alcohol? Did he forget this “dropping down a few” with the amnesia effect of the ambien?
Or was it a convenient omission of fact?
What about his previous accident?
Obviously, Congressman Kennedy has problems. He should resign and manage his demons.
Michelle Malkin agrees: PATRICK KENNEDY SHOULD RESIGN
Nope, I didn’t say it. Here’s the call from a commenter at–yes, it’s true–The Daily Kos.
Kennedy should resign………
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2 Comments
Chris from Victoria, BC
Background info: According to two independent sources, Kennedy probably lied about not using alcohol:
Capital Police incident report states Kennedy under influence of alcohol
Bar hostess says Kennedy drinking that night
As I’ve pointed out elsewhere, if he lied to the police about this, that was obstruction of justice.
However, there is a much more serious side to this.
Kennedy told officers he was going to a House vote at 2:45 AM. As you may be aware, the U.S. Constitution protects Members of Congress from being arrested or detained by the police in most circumstances providing they are going to or from the House to vote. This is to protect from interference in the Democratic process by the administration or police.
He lied to the Capital Police officers and told them he was on his way to a vote at 2:45 AM… when there was no vote… which may have caused the Capital Police to confer with higher-ups and the higher-ups to order not to arrest Kennedy because of the U.S. Constitution… is Kennedy guilty of obstruction of justice: a felony?
If I was on a jury, I’d have to conclude he was.
He’s trying to escape legal jeopardy.
Q. Why did he lie about his drinking to the officers if he did so?
A. Obstruction of justice.
Q. Why did he lie about going to a vote at 2:45 AM if he wasn’t?
A. Abusing his power as a Congressman to subvert the U.S. Constitution and obstruct justice.
So now he’s saying he wasn’t drinking, but he was abusing prescription drugs. This despite the two previous sources I cited that state he was either “under the influence of alcohol†(the cops) or “drinking†(bar hostess).
And Kennedy’s own statement said that he took precisely the prescribed amount of his prescription drugs and no more.
His statements have changed multiple times, but it’s his actions that night, which were in my opinion felonious.
If it walks like abusing his power to subvert the U.S. Constitution and obstruction of justice and if it talks like abusing his power to subvert the U.S. Constitution and obstruction of justice, it’s a duck.
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