Second time around for a Bush daughter. Still, it is hard to raise kids.. Maybe, Bush's daughters
crave attention. Didn't Bush take off for a fishing trip when one twin was in the hospital?
Did you see the film, Traffic?
Austin Police Cite Bush Daughters
By NATALIE GOTT, Associated Press Writer
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Police on
Thursday cited President Bush 19-year-old twin daughters for
allegedly violating state alcoholic beverage laws.
It would be the second offense for Jenna Bush and the first for her
sister, Barbara.
Police accused Barbara Bush of being a minor in possession of alcohol
and Jenna Bush of misrepresenting her age for allegedly trying to use
false identification to buy alcohol, according to a statement from the
Austin Police Department.
Both are Class C misdemeanors under the Texas Alcoholic Beverage
Code and carry a fine of up to $500, attendance at an alcohol
awareness course, community service and 30-day driver's license
suspension.
If convicted, Jenna Bush could lose her driver's license for up to 90
days because it would be a second offense, according to the Texas
Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
A third person, Jesse Day-Wickham, also was cited for being a minor in
possession of alcohol. An associate of the Bush family said
Day-Wickham is a girlfriend of the Bush twins.
A police investigation determined that Jenna Bush allegedly ordered a
margarita and was asked to produce identification proving she was 21.
She showed a valid driver's license belonging to someone else, police
said. She was not served.
Witnesses told police that Barbara Bush and Day-Wickham were
served alcohol.
Assistant Police Chief Jimmy Chapman said the bar checked IDs, but
he did not know what ID Barbara Bush and Day-Wickham used. The
ID Jenna Bush allegedly used was confiscated and charges could be
forthcoming, he said.
Chapman said other patrons at Chuy's Restaurant recognized Jenna
Bush and told restaurant employees before the manager called 911
Tuesday night to report that minors were attempting to buy alcohol.
Chapman said Bush's daughters and Day-Wickham were very
cooperative. ``I'm sure there's a certain amount of embarrassment, but
nobody said anything specific like 'I'm going to be in trouble,' `` he said.
The sisters signed the citations at their lawyers' office Thursday morning.
``We sincerely regret any inconvenience this has caused the first family,''
the restaurant said in a statement released Thursday afternoon.
Just over two weeks ago, Jenna Bush pleaded no contest to charges of
underage drinking. She was ordered to take alcohol counseling and
perform community service.
Prosecutor John Wall said Wednesday that another citation for Jenna
Bush could lead to her punishment for the underage drinking plea to be
revoked. He said authorities could then seek a conviction.
A spokeswoman for first lady Laura Bush called the matter a private
family issue.
``Both daughters are private citizens and this is a private family matter.
We respectfully request that the media treat it as such,'' said
spokeswoman Noelia Rodriguez.
Earlier Thursday, the White House asked the media to pause before
pursuing more stories about the daughters' legal problems stemming
from alleged underage drinking.
``I would urge all of you to very carefully think through how much you
want to pursue this,'' press secretary Ari Fleischer (news - web sites)
told reporters in Washington, D.C.
``I understand that there's a question of law. I've never called anybody
or suggested to anybody that the coverage today is in any way
inappropriate. But to go beyond that I would urge you to be very careful
because any reaction of the parents is parental; it is not governmental. It
is family. It's private and the American people respect that.''
Police would not say where Secret Service agents were at the time the
sisters were in the popular Mexican restaurant. The Secret Service
(news - web sites) wouldn't comment.
Jenna Bush's earlier no contest plea stemmed from a ticket Austin police
issued while checking for minors in possession of alcohol at nightclubs
April 27.
The twins are scheduled to see their parents and grandparents this
weekend, for a long-planned rededication ceremony at the Camp David
chapel.
Jenna Bush has an apartment in Austin, near the University of Texas where she is studying. She plans
to live there for the summer. Barbara, who was visiting her sister this week, is expected to spend most
of her summer in New Haven, Conn., where she attends Yale University. |
