Congressman Faces Assault And Battery Charges After Allegedly Pushing Airport Employee

Associated Press:

Filner allegedly attempted to enter an employees-only area, pushed aside an employee's arm and wouldn't leave when asked, according to a statement from Courtney Prebich, assistant media relations manager for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

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.

Read the whole story: Associated Press

Comments

[Paolonutuni]

12:50 PM on 08/23/2007

This is just like when the police beat up a girl at Reagan National Airport in DC. They assaulted this girl and gave her a serious brain injury and made her entire body black and blue.

Then they arrested HER and charged her with a made up crime. You can be beat up by police and then have them charge you with a slew of imaginary crimes to cover up the beating, even if you are a law abiding citizen.

I seriously doubt Congressman Filner, who has devoted his entire career to public service and was going to visit our troops in Iraq, assaulted anyone. Fly through Washington DC airports at your own risk!

[mikegoodyearaz85338]

03:35 PM on 08/21/2007

The Dems did the right thing with Cynthia McKinney and voted her out of office. They did the wrong thing with William Jefferson and reelected him. Like McKinney and Jefferson, Filner is from a heavyly Democratic district and its up to the Democrats to do the right thing.

I just wish that at least one "elected" Dem would do the right thing and resign instead of being forced out by the people.

[edw]

02:55 PM on 08/21/2007

Losing control in this specific situation is not exactly demonstrating a lack of belief in following rules. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds. The whole war has been a wasted trip.

[edw]

01:33 PM on 08/21/2007

Bad headline on web page. It was not a "fight."
Filner is an Anglo who represents majority Hispanic district that has a lot of low income residents. Gets re-elected because he fights for the little guy and also seniority status. Has been low key person in past.
I travel a lot, have experienced petty tyrants in blue polyester uniforms. Seems like Filner wanted to get on his way to Iraq to visit the troops and lost it when confronted by rulebook toting official. Not much of a story at this point. Wait for the video.

[maxfusion]

12:52 PM on 08/21/2007

This is why the democrat congress has the lowest approval rating in the history of the country. Arrogance, and no ideas.

[GhostintheMachine]

10:52 AM on 08/21/2007

More of your great Democrat controlled congress now at a historically low approval rating of 18%

[MajorKong]

11:08 AM on 08/21/2007

That's OK. Bush is still the 43rd best President we've ever had.

[GhostintheMachine]

11:12 AM on 08/21/2007

But But But Bush

[Bystander]

10:24 AM on 08/21/2007

This dolt is the white male counterpart of another Democrat that suffers from dilusions of entitlement...Cynthia McKinney.

[IMPRISONBUSH]

09:42 AM on 08/21/2007

DEM. OR REPUBLICANS THEY SEEM TO FORGET THAT THEY WORK FOR :
.............." WE THE PEOPLE ".............

I think this:
" BUSH & CHENEY I'M ROYALITY YOU CANT TUCH ME " is spreading to both partys/
" WE THE PWOPLE " PAY THERE SALARYS AND WE THE PEOPLE CAN SEND THEM PACKING".

[Gumby123]

08:58 AM on 08/21/2007

I question the timing. Hey libs, this is obviously a ROVIAN plot to draw attention away from Bush's ploy to take over the WORLD! Ahhh!!!!!!

[kfdan]

07:42 AM on 08/21/2007

I'm quite sure that a video exists of that altercation! You want the truth ~ wait for the tape!

[MajorKong]

05:50 AM on 08/21/2007

I'm not surprised that most airline employees have bad attitudes these days. They've taken some big pay cuts and staffing has been cut down to the bare minimum. They're being worked harder and paid less.

[seasalt]

07:11 AM on 08/21/2007

Fine, then. Let's bring back REGULATION and get rid of these rediculous price wars. Let's also bring back UNIONIZATION so the workers feel they have a voice. Finally, lets get them out of the business of policing passengers, and bring in a couple of well-trained officers on each flight. I'd happily pay more for flights that were on-time and staffed by cheerful, polite airline employees.

Heck, I'd pay double for good service and room for my knees.

[Jason357]

03:42 PM on 08/21/2007

Yeah. Airlines are like restaurants. The owners are usually very well off and the employees don't get paid enough.

[14justice]

02:48 AM on 08/21/2007

What is paramount in this discussion is how Filner casts votes...He is superlative on political issues and represents CD51 with aplomb.

[Mort]

02:15 AM on 08/21/2007

What size battery did he assault the person with? If it was a AAA, an apology should suffice. But a D.... that would require prison time!

[Ihadjellotoday]

01:30 AM on 08/21/2007

Why is almost everybody going for the congress member's jugular? The United Airlines guy is probably a total asshole. I still remember the time I was at Dulles waiting for a connecting flight. Gazing out the window, I noticed that UAL baggage handlers were literally throwing luggage onto the tarmac from the cargo bay of one of their planes. Thinking they weren't aware that they were missing the conveyor, I went to the UAL counter and told agent what was happening. He asked, "Is it your luggage?" When I replied "no," he said, "well then I wouldn't worry about it if I were you." I meekly went back to my seat and watched the rest of the luggage get thrown to the ground. Needless to say, I never fly United.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

02:20 PM on 08/21/2007

For what it's worth,

I have worked as an engineer building airports.

It's amazing how physical the work is for baggage handlers -- and ticket agents -- especially given how many people show up with suitcases packed with LEAD, maybe pay a few bucks for being overweight, and don't think of the burden, literally, they are imposing on others.

Not to condone the attitude described above, I'm just sayin...

[ceasenake]

11:23 PM on 08/20/2007

I'm suprised that this story is on Huffpo.

This one won't be up long.

I'm not surprised to see that there is no indication that this is a Democrat on this page itself - you have to actually open the original story to see that.

Still the incident is noted here, that's something at least.

I don't read into this that Dems Congressmen are worse than Repubs - they are both full of arrogant members.

I notice Huffpo is not going near the deportation of the famous (illegal) immigrant rights activist.

Too devisive to the Dem base?

[PerryClease]

12:50 AM on 08/21/2007

It was up on Huffington Post early today, there is more to this blog than the home page.

That being said you are probably correct, the story won't be up long, this is why; Bush, or someone in his Administration, will be involved in something much more serious than this incident and that story will rightfully take the place of Dullesgate.