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Filner Charged With Assault For Pushing Airline Worker
Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA) faces assault and battery charges for pushing an airline worker at Dulles International Airport, Roll Call reports.
We haven't heard of other alleged angry outbursts from the border-region lawmaker. But, to be fair, it sounds like the incident had something to do with lost luggage. We've all been there, Congressman.
From Roll Call (sub. req.):
According to the statement, at about 6 p.m. Sunday, while at the baggage-claim area for United Airlines, Filner “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.” Airport police arrived on the scene and interviewed Filner and other witnesses but let the Congressman leave. Later that evening, the airline employee whom Filner allegedly pushed appeared before a Loudoun County magistrate, who issued the summons charging Filner with assault and battery, according to the statement. Assault and battery is classified as a class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia. That charge could result in up to 12 months in jail and/or a $2,500 fine under Virginia code.
Filner's office said the news is factually incorrect. He'd correct the story now, said aides to the chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, but he's on his way to Iraq to visit the troops, so a full statement about the "ridiculous charges" will await his return. As will, in all likelihood, some very angry United employees.
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Comments (23)
Duckman GR wrote on August 21, 2007 10:16 AM:Why are they "very angry United employees?"
These charges are a bunch of crap, and I'm bothered that your reporting is clearly on the side of the wondeful, thoughtful, and caring airline employees, and not on the Congressman, who was probably looking at his luggage sitting there for 20 minutes before he got fed up with their assholish attitude.
Isn't that a more likely scenario than that the Congressman, a staunch liberal, one of the sponsors of HR 333, a good and decent man who's getting smeared, not just by the corporate media, but now by TPM, what, you trying to show how fair and balanced you are, and can't find a Dem spending all his free time with hookeers?
Steven Bobker wrote on August 21, 2007 10:30 AM:Seconded.
Someone got this wonderful United employee, after the incident was over and done, to file the charge. It's either for money or politics (or maybe both). And since I wasn't there (I avoid Dulles like the plague; you don't want to hear my horror stories) I'll take innocent until proven guilty as my choice here. I wish the article had reflected that too.
chris wrote on August 21, 2007 10:37 AM:Maybe Filner "had enough" of all that airport "insecurity."
chris wrote on August 21, 2007 10:38 AM:At least he wasn't flying in a private aircraft paid for by a defense contractor.
Maybe Filner "had enough" of all that airport "insecurity."
Jean Camp wrote on August 21, 2007 10:48 AM:At least he wasn't flying in a private aircraft paid for by a defense contractor.
I suspect he spent 20 minutes trying to get the employee to pick up a bag, with the Representative's name on it, and hand it over.
All airline travelers must obey all airline personnel in all things now or we are helping the terrorists. This power is abused by the petty every day, in every airport, to harass those over whom they have momentary authority.
I hope Filner goes back and writes an Airline Customer Bill of Rights.
http://www.strandedpassengers.blogspot.com/
Currently, it is LEGAL for an airline to keep you on the plane for fourteen hours, hours past the time the toilets have ceased to function and water is available.
Security code: Same (as it every was).
Mike Valentine wrote on August 21, 2007 11:04 AM:Who hasn't wanted to push these self appointed tin god airline employees once in a while?
However if the responding officer didn't arrest him then the chances are that the whole thing is crap.
nanz wrote on August 21, 2007 11:26 AM:Filner is one of the good ones as far as I know, starting from his Civil rights marches back in the day. I suspect he'd had it up to here; maybe because of his Dem. status has had some "extra special" attention from security for a good while (see Ted Kennedy). I am withholding judgement until the true story comes out. He has been an honorable oft re-elected rep.
Randy wrote on August 21, 2007 11:38 AM:Wow! - we sure do love to stick up for our guys - always give them the benefit of the doubt.
I will now be doggedly searching the posting boards for messages of restraint and "aw c'mon, who doesn't visit a hooker every now and then?" when the next Republican become immersed in a scandal. Specifically, I will be looking for such messages of understanding and disbelief/sympathy from:
Duckman GR (what do your friends call you "Duckie, GR")?
Steven Bobker
Chris
Jean Camp
Mike Valentine
AnneW wrote on August 21, 2007 11:41 AM:Watching and waiting,
Randy
I wouldn't be suprised if this "United" employee isn't a new contracted out employee. I rarely see real United employees at the check-in counter, etc. Those people actually get paid benefits.
Also, from descriptions I've read, the Congressman pushed an arm away. Not quite a scary encounter in my book.
Neil wrote on August 21, 2007 11:44 AM:"Filner is one of the good ones as far as I know"
It sounds like all of you are apologizing for the behavior of the congressman because of his political persuasion. If he were a republican I'm sure the comments would be different. I don't care what the circumstances are it's just wrong to push people - although I would like to wait and see what the whole story is when it comes out.
Mad Dog Rackham wrote on August 21, 2007 12:07 PM:By the way I'm a liberal myself - so I have no reason to want a dem to be caught up in such foolishness.
I think the defense of Filner comes more from our identification with him as an abused airline passenger rather than as a liberal Democrat.
Most baggage personnel are at least two levels away from being employees of the airline, and are low paid and overworked with no benefits, yet are somehow given absolute authority over travellers--for the traveller's security, of course.
It's a snowball effect: their employers have no respect for them, so they have no self respect, so they show us travellers no respect and we return the favor. It has to start with a living wage, decent benefits, and a decent work environment. Then you get happier, more productive employees who are treated well by the customers they serve.
Shame on the Congressman for "losing it," but anyone who travels much has been close to doing the same.
Now if it turns out that this was just a case of "Don't you know who I am?!" then I may have to rethink my position.
Ross Porter wrote on August 21, 2007 12:13 PM:Bob represents a Congressional district that's next to mine here in San Diego County. He's not one to suffer fools gladly, but is also not known for being a hot-head. He does use his personal experience to shed light on policy matters, which should lead to some interesting new positions or statements on matters of traveler rights and the bogus tin god security procedures and personnel. Filner's district borders on Mexico border and includes the world's busiest border crossing at Tijuana.
Austin Cooper wrote on August 21, 2007 12:37 PM:As people begin to feel more and more victimized, less and less powerful -- they'll victimize others less powerful than themselves, when the situation presents itself.
It's all part of the wondrous cycle of life which Little Georgie Bush, two years old, helped to create.
As someone who liked to kill frogs with firecrackers, and sucker-punch rugby opponents when he was sure he wasn't observed, I'm sure Lil' Georgie would agree that winning is everything, and compassion is for suckers and disposable campaign slogans.
Duckman GR wrote on August 21, 2007 12:50 PM:My complaint was more with the writer of this post than in the actions of Mr. Filner, and given the trivial, yes, trivial, nature of this incident, assault charges are patently absurd.
He's not flying corporate jets, "airport security" is a joke, and quite frankly, I'm sick of the fear mongering that creates and feeds over-reactions as demonstrated by this incident.
I can't speak for the others, but I'm not apologizing for his actions, whatever they may have been. I'm questioning the whole ridiculous system that the airlines have helped to create through their greed and laziness and never ending search for government bailout solutions to their cost of doing business.
All this airport security BS is just another way to threaten and harass, distract and cow, the American People, and it's long past time for everybody, trolls included, to stand up say "enough already, I'm not scared of the terrorists!"
pointus wrote on August 21, 2007 1:08 PM:A lawyer for the loyal opposition got ahold of the employee; pure and simple.
chris wrote on August 21, 2007 1:24 PM:What Duckman said.
Randy, there was a Dem Congresswoman who got hostile with the Congressional police and AFAIK she was not defended by folks on this site. Other Dems thought she should apologize.
The difference in this case is that many of us have experienced harrassment at the airport that is designed to make us feel "fearful" more than to make us be safer. Some of us are tired of acting like sheep. And- this administration is not above intimidating certain people in airport lines because they belong to a different political party or because they have openly criticized their policies.
calipendence wrote on August 21, 2007 1:32 PM:I just saw him Thursday night last week at our Dem club meeting. One could tell he's a busy guy when he was a little late there, but he took a lot of time to talk to us personally and camae off as a very caring person and not what I would call a jerk at all, and he talked about his plans going to Iraq the following week and made it sound very important for him.
He even had a Republican vet who's a supporter of his efforts there (representing Filipino vets that served for the U.S. Military in WWII and have been denied promised VA benefits from that war). He's well respected in this area and is not afraid of things like redistricting, etc. either.
It really surprised me to see this story, but knowing that he's already a cosponsor of HR 333 to impeach Cheney, that's another common trait he shares with Cynthia McKinney that is apt to put him up on the Republican's "hit list". I made a point of thanking him for his courage in supporting this bill.
714Day wrote on August 21, 2007 2:02 PM:Oh for God's sake! However justifiable the guy's frustration with provocative airline personnel may be, what is defensible about him being an asshole, too?
Bob's not Right wrote on August 21, 2007 3:08 PM:I'm sure there are video tapes to be had and we can see what's what.
Even if his situation was being handled in an aggravating manner, he handled THAT poorly. If the suggestions here are that he was "justified" in acting like a lout because his luggage was lost, then the airline goons have the same argument, don't they? They had a bad day.
Posted by: Duckman GR @ 12:50 "enough already, I'm not scared of the terrorists!”
That’s what I’m talking about
I feel like I’m living in some sick and twisted Aesop’s fable. We get sucker punched by a bunch of cave dwelling low life street thugs and our whole world turns upside down.
How about a new slogan “we’re fighting them over there and we’ll kill them over here also. We’ll kill them in Chicago or New York or hayseed Nebraska…kill them, marginalize them, demean them and most of all mock them for the punks that they are.”
There should be a sign on the White House door “Please don’t Feed the Terrorists.
Sorry, back to the thread..He should have learned in kindergarten you don’t push and shove. A “D” or an “R” stupid acts are stupid acts PERIOD.
eric wrote on August 21, 2007 3:24 PM:pushed aside the employee’s outstretched arm
Sounds really weak.
Fed Up with Airports wrote on August 21, 2007 6:54 PM:Even before I knew of the Congressman's political leanings, I sympathized with him. Pre 9-11, airlines actually provided support and service to customers. Now, harrassment seems to be the norm. As others have stated, it looks like he just tried to take his own luggage out of a storage area. He did not hit, shove, or otherwise harm the employee. Frankly, I sympathize with any passenger in any conflict with airlines or TSA.
The problem, as others have pointed out, is that the whole security thing has gotten way past simple common sense. Since security folks are totally anonymous (no name tags or badge numbers), passengers cannot lodge complaints about mistreatment. I would sympathize with a Republican representative in the same situation.
Jean Camp wrote on August 22, 2007 6:02 PM:nanz your comparison is a bit bizarre. It is illegal and disgusting to engage to pay to engage in sexual activities.
On the other hand, while it is not illegal to travel by air, it is certainly possible to be treated like a criminal while doing so. And certainly it is sometimes disgusting.
Neil has it right. We are offering sympathy as airline travelers.
Note that had he been delayed 12 hours on the tarmac the airline would not be required to provide working toilets, water, or even information. That is something that should concern every person who flies, not just partisans.
Jim wrote on August 24, 2007 1:49 PM:The airlines are simply abusing their customers and hiding behind security rules to defend their awful record of customer service.
The police at these airports need to start telling the airline employees to stop wasting their time or charging for false alarms.
Next time a smug airline employees asks if you would like them to call security say yes and lets get the true scope of the abuse out in public. Having an opinion is not against the law and a customer service failure is not a crime. What you have is airline employees being told to call police for unruly passangers. If you disagree with them they now want you arrested......very sad.