***scroll for updates…report of another Kennedy crash two weeks ago in Rhode Island…an interesting observation below about Kennedy’s “going for a vote” excuse…video: Roll Call reporter…***

***1000pm EDT update…Kennedy blames sleep medication…RWV notes another weird Kennedy accident…7am EDT update 5/5…report: he was drinking***

Rep. Patrick Kennedy

Drudge reporting on a Roll Call scoop…

Officers Claim Brass Interfered in Investigation of Rep. Kennedy Incident, ROLL CALL reports… MORE… Police labor union officials asked acting Chief Christopher McGaffin this afternoon to allow a Capitol Police officer to complete his investigation into an early-morning car crash involving Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.).

According to a letter sent by Officer Greg Baird, acting chairman of the USCP FOP, 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.

As they say:

Mary Jo Kopechne was unavailable for comment.

WUSA TV, local DC station, has more:

9 News has learned U.S. Capitol police officers are concerned about the handling of an accident involving Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-Rhode Island) about 3 a.m. this morning.

Rep. Kennedy was reportedly behind the wheel of a green Ford Mustang when it crashed into a security barrier at 1st and “C” streets Southeast.

There are no reports of injuries. A Boston TV station is reporting Kennedy told officers he was late for a vote. We are told police drove him home after conferring with higher-ups in the department. So far, Kennedy HAS NOT been charged. A spokesman for his office told CNN that alcohol was NOT involved.

The head of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 1, Lou Cannon, told 9 News that he’s concerned that Kennedy may have received special treatment and this could be a case where “rank has its privilege.”

Cannon also told 9 News that officers noticed the car swerving, looking as if it was going to make a U-turn.

9 News reporter Stacey Cohan spoke to Kennedy’s press secretary at his congressional office in Rhode Island, who said she is looking into the situation, but does not have any information right now.

Congressman Patrick Kennedy is Ted Kennedy’s son. He is currently serving his sixth term as the Democratic Congressman from Rhode Island. He sits on the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

More Drudge details.

Update 6:00pm EDT. WRKO talk show host Howie Carr has a police report from a separate Pat Kennedy car crash two weeks ago:

Check out Rep. Kennedy’s handwriting!

Jason Smith compares that scrawl with Kennedy’s normal penmanship:

Full police report here. Reader Gene e-mails:

Good grief, I just read the police / accident report from the Kennedy accident in Rhode Island. Some observations:

Kennedy was clearly the “at fault” driver, he turned left directly into the path of an on-coming car. Did he get cited? Can’t tell.

Both operators filled out a statement. The other driver’s is detailed (15 lines of fairly small printing) and looks ordinary. Kennedy’s is so scribbled it cannot even be said that it looks like a child. It is very short (2 1/2 lines of larger “printing”), few of the words can even be read, and the writing goes all over the place (up - down - sideways). In spite of what the officer wrote, there is no way an unimpaired person writes like that. Kennedy can’t even legibly write his name or address, let alone the narrative details.

Saturday morning at 10:00 am - anyone impaired at that time of the morning has a REAL problem. Kennedy’s vehicle is owned by “Friends of Patrick Kennedy, Inc.” Hum, he doesn’t even own the car he drives in this home state?

When and to whom did Kennedy report the details of this accident in which he crashed into a member of the public? How much delay was there before he reported it and why would he delay the reporting? What’s good for the VP goose is good for the Congressman gander.

The other operator is insured by USAA, meaning he has some military connection - active - Reserve, Guard or retired.

***

Fausta at The Bad Hair Blog notes something important about Kennedy’s claim that he was late to a vote:

Late to a vote? One would think that answer showed he was drunk, but he was claiming something else: More like claiming diplomatic Constitutional immunity.

United States Constitution,

Section 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the treasury of the United States. 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.

Patrick claims he no alcohol prior to the incident.

And if he did, it sure didn’t affect his memory of the Constitution.

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