Rep. Bob Filner Charged With Assault on Virginia Airport Worker

[Trillo]

Source: Fox News

Monday, August 20, 2007

WASHINGTON — California Rep. Bob Filner was facing charges Monday for allegedly assaulting an airline worker at Dulles International Airport after becoming upset that his luggage had not arrived at a baggage carousel.
...
According to law enforcement officials, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority police were called to the United Airlines baggage claim office at about 6 p.m. Sunday evening for a report of an incident with a passenger regarding his baggage.

"The individual allegedly attempted to enter an area authorized for airline employees only, pushed aside the employees outstretched arm and refused to leave the area when asked by an airline employee," according to airport police.

"When MWAA officers arrived a few minutes later, the man had left the office and was waiting in the area of a bag carousel. Officers interviewed him and witnesses and released him. Before the individual left the airport, officers advised him that the airline employee would be pursuing charges," the police statement reads.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293834,00.html

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I know it's Fox ... but it's also DU newsworthy if true.

[Buck Rabbit]

1. .

self deleted. my error.

[Fridays Child]

2. Maybe Bob upended a few too many of those cute, little liquor bottles, on his flight.

Drunks can be quite belligerent, you know. :shrug:

[Maat]

3. This is distressing.

Bob is the best, and I just talked to him at the Kucinich event on Sunday, August 12th. He's such a nice, great guy, and he's listening well to his constituents who are distressed about Blackwater putting a facility out in the sticks in San Diego County.

He shook hands with many of us, he's a dedicated progressive, and he really enjoyed talking at the Kucinich event.

I hope they resolve this, everyone makes their apologies, and he gets back to work quickly! Prayers and positive thoughts headed his way; it sure doesn't sound like the same Rep. Filner that I've seen speak many times.

Edited to add that Rep. Filner works hard and speaks truth to power regarding how badly our returning veterans are being treated by this Misadministration, on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and I've heard him eloquently speak out against the invasion and occupation of Iraq many times.

[rodeodance]

5. thanks.

[cascadiance]

8. Damn, I just saw him last Thursday on the 16th...

... when he spoke to our Democratic Club. He was a great guy then! And of course he IS already a cosigner of HR333 too, even being in a red state area down here in San Diego...

Pretty much a shock to me... He was a little late to our meeting then, so perhaps all week he's a bit stressed out with things pressing on him for time.

And he spoke very well on veteran's affairs here too, having support from both Democrats and Republicans on this issue and who attended our meeting.

He spoke on his plans to be in Iraq this week, so you could tell that was a very important trip in his view. It would be interesting to get a *real* view of what happened there. I can see how some people can get a bit pushy when they feel someone is being unreasonable (though most people don't push the envelope in an airport setting). I think I have a hard time accepting that he should be accused of "battery" which sounds a bit extreme in terms of charges of what I think was likely the case. Perhaps assault can be a valid charge if he was pushing folks aside against their wishes. But I have a hard time believing that he would actually be trying to "beat", "wound", or "touch in an offensive manner" this person. Sounds a little overstated if you ask me.

[rodeodance]

4. he San Diego Democrat

Filner, 64, is slated to appear in Loudoun County, Va., General District Court on Oct. 2. Court officials could not say whether the San Diego Democrat had been served the summons yet to show up on that date.

[Maat]

7. We progressives out here sure think highly of him.

How come Darth can get hooched up, shoot his friend in the face and heart, and have nothing happen to him? What crud! I can tell you that there have been many Rethugs mad at Bob for standing up for the veterans, and listening to his constituents. I fail to believe that he's the only Congressman or Senator that ever became impatient at an airport; but, if you're a Rethuglican ...

[MADem]

6. I saw this on CNN earlier today. Hmmm. They said he was being charged with assault and battery. NT

[Liberty Belle]

9. more details here....

Congressman Charged With Assault
Chantilly, Va. - Monday August 20, 2007 7:15 pm


Rep. Bob Filner is facing an assault and battery charge after an incident at Dulles Airport where he allegedly pushed an United Airlines bag claim employee as first reported by ABC7/Newschannel 8.

...Filner disputed the account in a statement issued by his office.

"Congressman Bob Filner is on his way to Iraq, visiting our troops, and will have a full statement when he returns. Suffice it to say now, that the story that has appeared in the press is factually incorrect - and the charges are ridiculous," the statement said.

The encounter happened after Filner "experienced a delay in claiming his bag," according to a United Airlines statement. United said it regretted that delay and was cooperating in the investigation.

[MADem]

11. He denies; there are cameras everywhere, though...we will know the

truth soon enough.

[Gormy Cuss]

16. "experienced a delay" = airlinespeak for "our incompetent system by no means inconvenienced you "

The only thing United regrets is that this time the inconvenienced passenger is a congressman.

[Scurrilous]

10. Fair dinkum! n/t

[NYC]

15. That's precisely what came to my mind.

I suspect this is a similar incident.

[Blue_Tires]

12. i'm not excusing him for acting like a jerkoff, BUT

I DO know exactly where he's coming from!

[Judi Lynn]

13. He's getting far more attention for this than any of the Republican perverts we've heard of

who NEVER made the tv cable news. Interesting.

I'm not putting this in the same category with wearing a skirt while urinating in front of children right before offering oral sex to cops, which happened recently with a Republican. Never made the big time at ALL with that escapade.

Will look for more info. on this when time is available.

He's just not in the same league, even if this mind numbingly terrifying event is actually true. (Still quivering in my boots over it.) I know I wouldn't be interested in posting it.

[pitohui]

14. sounds like b.s. to me EOM

,