Rep. Kennedy Told to Meet With Guard

Rep. Patrick Kennedy was ordered Thursday to meet face-to-face with an airport security guard in an effort to resolve the woman’s battery allegation.

Della Patton claims the Rhode Island Democrat shoved and grabbed her on March 26 after she told him his bag was too big to fit through an X-ray scanner at Los Angeles International Airport. She filed a battery complaint with police.

Burglary-homicide detectives assigned to investigate the high-profile case interviewed witnesses and examined a surveillance videotape of the incident before presenting the evidence last week to city prosecutors.

Rather than file a misdemeanor battery charge, which carries a maximum six months in jail and a $2,000 fine, the city attorney’s office ordered a May 12 office hearing at its Pacific Branch office near the airport.

“It’s a closed, informal, quasi-judicial hearing so both parties can discuss this. We refer cases to the hearing because we feel they can be resolved,” said Mike Qualls, spokesman for the city attorney. Such hearings are held in 25,000 to 30,000 cases a year. “The final decision on the case is made after the hearing, but nine out of 10 are resolved and there are no charges.”

Kennedy aides said the 32-year-old son of Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) was in Washington and would not be available for comment. In a written statement, Kennedy said he was grateful to the city attorney.

“From the night of the incident on, I have stated my regret that I acted rudely. I also have said that I regret how this has been blown way out of proportion,” he said.