Congressman Bob Filner, Chairman
of the House Veterans Affairs
Committee has appeared before a
Virginia court with a plea deal
regarding a borish behavior incident
at Dulles Airport in Washington.

The original charges were misdemeanor
assault and battery with an allegation
of pushing and shoving a baggage
worker, which was later on revised
to a misdemeanor Trespass charge.
He was fined $100 and mandated to
issue a letter of apology to the
worker.

The House Ethics Committee may
also do a review when the legal
part of the action is complete.


Dec 19, 7:49 PM EST

Ethics probe of Rep. Filner dropped

UPDATE NOTE: THE ETHICS COMMITTEE HAS RELEASED THE AP ANNOUNCEMENT BELOW

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- The House Ethics Committee said Wednesday that it has dropped its investigation of U.S. Rep. Bob Filner for his altercation with a baggage employee at Dulles International Airport.

Members of its investigative subcommittee unanimously agreed Filner's behavior demonstrated "poor judgment" that reflected badly on the House of Representatives, but they also felt the case was adequately handled in court, according to a committee statement.

The California Democrat entered a no-contest plea Nov. 26 in General District Court in Loudoun County, Va., to misdemeanor trespassing charges after prosecutors dropped assault and battery counts. He was fined $100 and ordered to send a letter of apology to Joanne Kay Kunkel, the airline worker who accused him of trying to shove past her into an employee-only area after his bags were delayed Aug. 19.

Kunkel alleged in a criminal complaint that Filner barged past other customers, screamed at employees and repeatedly pushed her. He yelled, "You can't stop me," according to her complaint.

In a statement after his plea, Filner said he was sorry but denied any physical violence or seeking of special treatment because he is a congressman.

Filner's office did not immediately return a message Wednesday.

Filner is in his eighth term representing California's 51st Congressional District, along the Mexican border. He leads the Veterans Affairs Committee.

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