Congressman charged after altercation

Posted: Monday, August 20, 2007 3:37 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Congress

From NBC's John Yang and Jay Blackman

Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA) was involved in an altercation last night at Dulles Airport. He was allegedly angered by the amount of time it was taking to get his luggage and tried to push his way through the United Airlines baggage claim office. The release below is from Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

“Around 6 PM on Sunday, Aug. 19, Airports Authority Police were called to the United Airlines bag claim office at Dulles 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 employee's outstretched arm and refused to leave the area when asked by an airline employee. 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 airline employee appeared before a Loudoun County Magistrate later that evening and a summons was obtained charging Robert Filner (DOB 09/04/1942) with assault and battery, a class 1 misdemeanor. Mr. Filner is scheduled to appear in Loudoun County General District Court on October 2.”

**** UPDATE **** NBC's Ken Strickland has the response from Filner's press office in a written statement: "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."

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Comments

what, he couldn't get a ride with Nancy Pelosi? What a mean nasty ill tempered gentleman he must be.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 3:44 PM)

Another pompous arrogant Washington politician who thinks he's above it all.

Concerned Voter (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 3:44 PM)

Hannity will probably spend 25% of his radio show on this.

Pete Caloger Bushkill, PA 18324 (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 3:52 PM)

Those airline employees need to show restraint. A little courtesy for the customers and a clear demonstration of concern is best.

D, Out West (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:05 PM)

So, it's ok to push your way around if you're a Congressman, Peter?

Get real..

GOSD (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:06 PM)

I have waited for my luggage for over one hour at Dulles on two occasions. I have used that airport at least a dozen times over the last 15 years and it have never been less than 45 minutes to get my luggage.

Arlington, VA (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:07 PM)

Mildly comforting that not all of them are above the law.

James Buchanan, Laurel, MD (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:08 PM)

As well he should, Democrats spend 98% of their time talking about how horrible the Repbulicans are. Hannity should give him back a little of his own medicine

Travieso, Miami FL 33166 (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:08 PM)

republican or democrat..they are all boorish, ego centric, wastes of our money

ken bodger (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:08 PM)

I guess they can pass the laws but not live by them

sick of the Pols (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:09 PM)

This guy is a clown and should do some kind of time, but his is a D.C insider and that's how it goes. Hopefully he will not get reelected. What a butt head!!!

John Doe (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:09 PM)

He is just too important of a person to have to wait like the rest of us.
I hope that they make an example out of him...yea right.

Greg Spring, Tx. (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:10 PM)

These democrats are so prone to violence.

Dave, Tn (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:11 PM)

Given the security concerns nowadays, the employee should have decked him after the 2 bit punk pushed the employee aside.

Tom Hamilton, Westboro, MA (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:11 PM)

NO HARM , NO FOUL .......... ANOTHER WANNA BE POLICEMAN WHO WASN'T DOING THEIR JOB CORRECTLY. GUARANTEE HE WAS NOT WHERE HE WAS SUPPOSE TO BE SO THEREFORE COULD NOT HAVE NOT HEADED OFF THE INCIDENT WITH A DEGREE OF COURTESY

RONALD L. MOSLEY,NORTH RANDALL,OH (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:11 PM)

Didn't take long for this one to become partisan. As if a single party had a monopoly on arrogance.

Rusty C, Alpharetta, GA (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:19 PM)

Arrogance...this guy is no better than any of us--what makes him think he's got immunity from standing in line? Pompous Californian.

Tsurc Tub Texas (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:19 PM)

Just like that congresswoman who tried to get past the security guards at the Capitol Building a year or so ago. Of course, the mantra of Washington lawmakers has ALWAYS been: "Don't do as I do, do as I say." Unbelievable!

Mike Q., Morristown, NJ (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:19 PM)

hmm...is his time more valuable than the regular guy? I bet if I was the one who charged into a restricted area at an airport I would have been hauled off in handcuffs so quick my head would still be spinning...

Helen Gray (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:19 PM)

He is a lowlife nobody politician. it will make for good small talk but it will go away. if it was us who did that we would have our entire family investigated for connections to AL-Qaida.

Dan Kansas City (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:20 PM)

HE PROBABLY HAD IMPORTANT MATTERS TO TAKE CARE OF TO HELP THE UNWASHED. I KNOW HE WAS HELPING SOMEONE. HE IS FROM THE PARTY OF THE PEOPLE, THE DEMOCRATS.

M. H. SUTHERLAND DALLAS, TX (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:20 PM)

Clinton Filner a shoe in ticket

hodunker (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:20 PM)

Another arrogant poitician who thinks that he's above the rules that the rest of us have to follow.

Gilbert, Springfield VA (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:20 PM)

My sympathy is with any passenger these days. The airlines are worse than ever, but they lobbied Congress for a change in the law, and now they threaten you with arrest every time you complain about the air conditioning or time on the tarmac. A friend sat in an un-air-conditioned jet on the tarmac in Las Vegas in the middle of the summer for 4 hours, and the response of the flight crew to people asking to de-plane their relatives with heart conditions was to threaten them with the law. The airline never seems to be reprimanded for speciously reporting passengers, either, so even if they can't get you arrested they can have you questioned just long enough to miss your flight.

JH, NYC (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:21 PM)

Undoubtedly, the charges will be dropped. While his actions are indefensible, so are the actions of airline/airport personnel in routing baggage. Way too many bags get lost.

Alabama Man, Anniston, AL (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:21 PM)

who cares

Frederick Macko (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:21 PM)

What is the difference between the Post Office and the typical airport and the typical government agency? Answer- nothing, they're all incompentent.

Stan Trexler Las Vegas, Nv. (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:22 PM)

I am so SICK of people in a GOV. OFFICE thinking they are better than the rest of us. PELOSI makes me sick she needs her head examined. If people on Capt. hill and people in State Gov want to make a statement how abour getting rid of limos and taking a taxi or even better WALK. How about stop voting yourself a raise and do something to improve AMERICA. 99% of them are money hungry SOBS. What ever happened to people that worked for a living!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jeanette (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:22 PM)

http://zeitgeistmovie.com

THIS WILL OPEN YOUR EYES...........

Start a Revolution (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:23 PM)

He does not look 67 years old!

Airline employee, Dallas, TX (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:23 PM)

I am so sick and tired of people who are in politics and those in Hollywood who think they are above the law and consider it beneath them to wait their turn like the rest of us. It's becoming the "norm" for them to break the law and think they have the right to get away with it. Get over yourselves! I hope he get's sued!

C.R. Waddock (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:23 PM)

As a constiuent of Rep Filner, I agree that he an ill tempered individual. He has always been this way since he was a councilman for San Diego. An arrogant Congressman to rival none other it doesn't surprise me that he is now in trouble. The question now is, will the Democrats force him to resign? If he were a Republican, the party would force him to, but I doubt the Democrats would stoop so low on the ethical ladder as to actually make him give up his subcommitte chair let alone resign from Congress.

FilnerConstiuent, San Diego, CA (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:23 PM)

Hannity will spend 50% of his radio show on this. But I will never hear it - I never listen to his shows. He makes real conservatives look bad by focusing on nonsense like this.

Larry (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:23 PM)

If the congressman can't control his temper, I wonder how he votes on controversial issues that do not meet his approval --- even it is good for the people?

Randall Goodnight, Concord, North Carolina (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:23 PM)

If it were you or I, we'd probably still be sitting in the clink.

Jason, Dallas (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:23 PM)

We know that somehow this is George Bush's fault. The congressman should have stated that he was in the country illegally. He could then litigate and would be getting an apology from the airline and the soon to be fired employee.

Ty, Lincoln, NE (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:23 PM)

Now come on, free special parking, liscence plates to deflect any attention from your dangerous driving, free health coverage and so forth. Shall we pretend congressmen are unused to special privelege?

He's important, can't be expected to wait or follow the rules like other people.

P. Stevens (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:24 PM)

Maybe, just maybe, when Congressmen have as much difficulty with airline travel as the rest of us do, something will finally get done to fix the problems we ALL are having.

Mike Stevens, Renton, Washington (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:24 PM)

Airlines employees are arrogant and rude, especially ticketing agents and stewardesses. There have been many occasions upon which airlines employees have put hands on people to push them out of the way in a boarding line, or to push them down into their seat on a plane.
On top of that, the airlines charge you more, treat you like $#1+, and use 9-11 as an excuse for it all. (This is coming from someone who frequently travels on business, by the way.)
I would like to know how pushing someone's oustretched arm away constitute's "assault and battery."
I also need more details of the incident before I'm prepared to say that this is anything other than just another frustrated flyer who is sick of the poor service, rude treatment, late arrivals, mis-handling of baggage, and higher ticket ticket prices that we've all been subjected to since 9-11.

J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:24 PM)

Once again, politicians think they are above the law and that the average joe is there to wait on them hand and foot

Michael (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:24 PM)

WHO CARES !!! NOTHING WILL HAPPEN

SCOTT SETERA BUFFALO, NY (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:25 PM)

I bet not one word is on the MSM about this because there is a D instead of an R after his name. What a pompous ass pig!

Tami, Sacramento, CA (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:25 PM)

Arrogant are the airport employees mainly thrill seekers by getting excitement by harrasing and taking advantage of the fellow passengers.
You give them uniform and they think the are dictators or field marsalls with no respect to the human fellow passengers.Instead trying to help them they sue you so they can rip you off for monetary gains.
Shame to them.

Fedon Vayanis (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:26 PM)

When will the PEOPLE rule the GOVERNMENT instead of the GOVERNMENT ruling the PEOPLE???

Geoge Morrison, Elroy,PA (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:26 PM)

Gee, imposed rules that he as a congressman, might have helped to initate in the first place. What goes around comes around.

Billy in Paris, TX (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:26 PM)

Once again, politicians think they are above the law and that the average joe is there to wait on them hand and foot

Michael (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:27 PM)

"Hannity will probably spend 25% of his radio show on this."

If it was a Republican, Olby would devote his whole show to it.

Ann (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:27 PM)

Anyone who has ever been ignored by a rude, uncaring airline employee will empathize with this.

MJS (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:27 PM)

It's a small example of a large problem with today's politicians, either federal or state! This story does NOT surprise me.

John, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:27 PM)

Assault and battery for pushing an arm aside? Give me a break! I'm the last to stick up for a politician, but come on!! How about "being in an unauthorized area" or something to that effect? Gee, let's waste the systems time with arm pushing so we have to accept plea bargains from rapists and such because the courts are too busy. The justice system in this country has gone to the dogs!

Kurt Holz, Los Angeles, CA. (Sent Monday, August 20, 2007 4:27 PM)

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