CA-51: Bob Filner (D) charged with assault & battery

(Cross-posted at DailyKos)

Uh-oh.  MSNBC’s First Read

Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA) was involved in an altercation last night at Dulles Airport. He was allegedly angered by the amount of time it was taking to get his luggage and tried to push his way through the United Airlines baggage claim office.

….

The individual 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. When MWAA officers arrived a few minutes later, the man had left the office and was waiting in the area of a bag carousel. … The airline employee appeared before a Loudoun County Magistrate later that evening and a summons was obtained charging Robert Filner (DOB 09/04/1942) with assault and battery, a class 1 misdemeanor.

ABC has more on his temper in a past incident too.

Filner, an eight-term incumbent who chairs the Veterans Affairs Committee, has displayed flashes of temper in the past.

About a year ago, he hurled obscenities at two Veterans Affairs officials after a briefing about the burglary of a laptop with military personnel information. The VA officials termed the briefing a “publicity stunt,” which angered Filner.

Now, Filner’s office has issued a statement.

**** UPDATE **** NBC’s Ken Strickland has the response from Filner’s press office in a written statement: “Congressman Bob Filner is on his way to Iraq, visiting our troops, and will have a full statement when he returns. Suffice it to say now, that the story that has appeared in the press is factually incorrect – and the charges are ridiculous.”

I’m really hoping they clarify ASAP what is factually incorrect, because as it stands, the story does not look good.

This could potentially hurt the Democrats even more than you think.  Bob Filner has been a champion for progressive causes.  He’s about as good as you can get on the environment (92% LCV rating in 2006), and as the chairman on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, has held key hearings on PTSD and traumatic brain injuries from Iraq.

He also:

* is a co-sponsor of H.R. 333 to begin impeachment proceedings against Dick Cheney.

* voted against the 2002 AUMF that let Bush invade Iraq.

* was one of the first co-sponsors of John Conyers’ H.R. 676 for universal health care.

And UTBriancl has praised Filner for helping brand the Democratic Party at a time when others seem embarrassed to mention that they belong to the party.

Bottom line, Filner is a guy I think the netroots would be proud to support.  If he’s forced out because of this, we lose a champion in the House.  And who would replace him?  Well, it seems there’s been a bitter rivalry between him and Juan Vargas, who keeps challenging Filner in the Democratic primary.  His main reasoning is that the Hispanic majority district should have a Hispanic representing them.  After what we went through with Laura Richardson saying similar things in CA-26, and similar things being said against Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) of Memphis, I don’t think there’s a place for that kind of talk.  I can already sense problems if Filner is replaced by Vargas.

I know, this may be very premature to talk about.  But you have to consider all the possibilities.  I hope he responds sooner than later to clear up what happened here.  Because right now, it doesn’t look good.