First you had Rep. Cynthia McKinney slugging a Capitol police officer for daring to stop her after she bypassed a security checkpoint while not wearing the pin that identifies her as a member of Congress.

Then, early this morning, Roll Call reports that Rep. Patrick Kennedy nearly hit a Capitol Police cruiser and instead smashed into a security barricade.

In an apparent cover-up reminiscent of Ted Kennedy's Chappaquiddick escapade, Capitol Hill police officers were prevented from giving Kennedy a field sobriety test by their higher-ups, according to police union official Greg Baird.

"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."

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."

Baird said he had been advised that after the officers departed, Capitol Police "House Division officials" gave Kennedy a ride home.

Just remember, they're intrinsically better than you are. That's why they get this sort of treatment.

*UPDATE* Late Thursday night, Kennedy released a statement claiming that he was driving while impaired.

Kennedy said he returned to his Capitol Hill home on Wednesday evening after a final series of votes in Congress and took "prescribed" amounts of Phenergan and Ambien, another prescribed drug that he occasionally takes to fall asleep.

"Some time around 2:45 a.m., I drove the few blocks to the Capitol Complex believing I needed to vote," his second statement said. "Apparently, I was disoriented from the medication."

When I read that, I was ready to give Kennedy the benefit of the doubt and let him do some sort court-approved diversion program to avoid prosecution.

Then I found this out.

Kennedy was apparently in an accident [PDF document] just two weeks ago in Rhode Island. Kennedy apparently made a left turn in front of oncoming traffic. If you look at page 6 of the accident report, it's apparent that one of two things occurred. Either Kennedy was trying to write on an incredibly uneven surface -- like a whino's face -- or he was impaired at the time of that accident too.

If this guy gets anywhere near Hoystory's favorite niece, he's in big trouble.