Another Kennedy car crash coverup

Say that five times real fast!

What is it with those Kennedys and their driving problems?

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.), son of Sen. Ted Kennedy.

ROLL CALL reports: 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.

“The driver exited the vehicle and he was observed to be staggering,” Baird’s letter states. Officers approached the driver, who “declared to them he was a Congressman and was late to a vote. The House had adjourned nearly three hours before this incident. It was Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy from Rhode Island.”

Dammit, Barney Fife, get the #@$! out of his way! Don't you know who he is? He's got an environment to save, by God (insert Kennedy clan name here, in lieu of deity)! Continuing:

Baird wrote that Capitol Police Patrol Division units, who are trained in driving under the influence cases, were not allowed to perform basic field sobriety tests on the Congressman. Instead, two sergeants, who also responded to the accident, proceeded to confer with the Capitol Police watch commander on duty and then “ordered all of the Patrol Division Units to leave the scene and that they were taking over.”

A source tells the DRUDGE REPORT: "It was apparent that the driver was intoxicated (stumbling) and claimed he was in a hurry to make a vote.

"When it became apparent who it was, instead of processing a normal DWI, the watch commander had the Patrol units clear the scene. The commander allowed other building officials drive Kennedy home."

This morning's incident comes just over two weeks after Kennedy was involved in a car accident in Rhode Island.

"I was involved in a traffic accident last night at First and C Street SE near the U.S. Capitol," Kennedy said in a written statement released by his office. "I consumed no alcohol prior to the incident. I will fully cooperate with the Capitol Police in whatever investigation they choose to undertake."

So long as said action doesn't involve any accountability.

Haven't we heard of another Kennedrunk driving moment (and cover-up) before? I swear, I'm drowning in a haze here, but I know I've heard something like this before! I'm sure it'll float up to the surface in my mind sometime...it can't stay submerged forever. Oh, well, it's not like Patty here drove off a bridge with a mistress, or something.

Mary Jo Kopechne was unavailable for comment.

Patty the K left his license plate at the scene of the crime "incident"

UPDATE (5/5/06 - 12:40 EST): It was the pills! Oh, OK. Here I thought it might have been a half-dozen Salty Dogs and a couple of Kamikaze shooters. How presumptuous of me to assume alcohol was involved in a Kennedrunk car mishap! For those of you on the left, that was sarcasm.