Kennedy Entering Rehab
Patrick Kennedy is checking himself into Rochester’s Mayo Clinic for addiction to painkillers.
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-RI), 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-MA), issued a supportive statement in which he said he’s proud of his son for admitting his problem and taking steps to correct it.
“He has taken full responsibility for events that occurred … and he will continue to cooperate fully with any investigation,” the elder Kennedy said.
The problem I have with this statement is that he was seen earlier that night drinking at a Washington establishment called The Hawk and Dove. If that’s true, why did he tell Capitol Hill police that he wasn’t drinking?
He says that he has no recollection of the incident or getting “three driving infractions” but he has the presence of mind to tell the Capitol Hill police that he was late for a vote, thereby invoking Article I, Section 6, which says “They shall in all cases, except treason, felony and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any speech or debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other place.”
Frankly, it’s obvious that Patrick Kennedy is spinning more in this series of explanations than a Clinton apologist during Monicagate. I don’t believe a thing he’s said.
Another part that’ll receive public scrutiny is the role Capitol Hill police played in not doing their duties and in interfering with the work of the officers who arrived first on the scene. The officers who ran off the patrols should be fired for preventing the patrolmen from doing their jobs and prosecuted for aiding in the commission of a crime.
UPDATE:
Michelle Malkin: “Patrick Kennedy Should Resign”
RELATED:
Patrick Kennedy: Now What?
Technorati Tags: Patrick Kennedy, Capitol Police, DUI
Cross-post at LetFreedomRingBlog
May 5th, 2006 at 3:34 pm
Does the Right Wing Blogging world have it in them to take on a Kennedy???
These people are PROS at political survival.
May 5th, 2006 at 5:18 pm
Kennedy Blames Accident on Sleep Medicine
Rep. Patrick Kennedy crashed his car near the Capitol early Thursday, and a police official said he
May 5th, 2006 at 6:42 pm
[...] Cross-posted at California Conservative Categories: The Constitution, House of Representatives, Inside the Beltway | [...]
May 5th, 2006 at 6:45 pm
Thanks SFL for being honest about how the Kennedy’s and democrats are “PROS” when it come to getting away with crimes and corruption. The people are catching on fast which could answer the question so many democrats ask themselves , why are we in the “MINORITY”?
May 5th, 2006 at 7:09 pm
[...] California Conservative [...]
May 6th, 2006 at 4:46 am
PAT KENNEDY UPDATES: Heads To Cinco De Mayo Clinic After Changing Story… Again
***If you’re behind on the Pat Kennedy controversy, see my original Thursday post that includes many updates, details, and twists in this matter. So as I give you a quick update and link round-up with brief commentary, know that…
May 6th, 2006 at 9:35 am
In my humble opinion as I’ve pointed out on other blogs, if he lied to the police about this, that was obstruction of justice.
However, there is a much more serious side to this from a public policy point of view: the relationship to the govenment and the governed.
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. 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 (but bars had recently let out)… 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.
As an aside, does anyone know when last call is in DC?
Here in Canada there’s usually a legislated time and then a period of a half an hour or an hour that the establishment must remain open after last call. How does it work there?