If this is "leading by example", then you and me are in plenty trouble.

This is just like when the police beat up a girl at Reagan National Airport in DC. They assaulted this girl and gave her a serious brain injury and made her entire body black and blue.

Then they arrested HER and charged her with a made up crime. You can be beat up by police and then have them charge you with a slew of imaginary crimes to cover up the beating, even if you are a law abiding citizen.

I seriously doubt Congressman Filner, who has devoted his entire career to public service and was going to visit our troops in Iraq, assaulted anyone. Fly through Washington DC area airports at your own risk!

So Pat I guess you subscribe to the thinking that politicians should be to do as they please.

This idiot took it upon himself to force his way into a restricted area. Anyone else who did this would have had to have been bailed out of jail. It is time for everyone to play by the same set of rules instead of politicians and celebrities using their "get out of jail free" cards.

"Since when does pushing someone's arm out of your way rise to the level of a crime?" Pat ~ NY

When you're an unauthorized person entering a restricted area in an airport. When the airline employee (doing their job) asks you to stop but you push them aside.

But hey - this is "small potatoes". Those airline employees ought to just "get over it" and stop enforcing silly security measures, right Pat?

A new poll shows Americans' approval of Congress sinking to an all-time low of 18%.

And this is why..

Since when does pushing someone's arm out of your way rise to the level of a crime? And how does this translate to all Democrats are bad people and we should vote for a republican? Airports are stress-factories - when was the last time anyone was in one? Considering how tempers tend to rise in them, an arm push is small potatoes folks.

The partisan comments in this thread are just idiotic…Ethan & JA…I guess by your standards this guy represents democrats across the nation…so going by your 4th grader mentality, it would be safe to assume that Mark Foley represents republicans across the nation?

Apparently,Mr.Filner has no consideration for the democrats he represents,we don't appreciate any democrat representing us acting undignified,even if he thinks he is correct in his actions!

The US Congress commits assault and battery on the citizens of this country every day they are in session. Why is only the Filner case getting all this publicity?

Let's lock this guy up in the same cell as Cynthia McKinney of Georgia. Maybe they can take their anger out on each other.

The legal definition of assault is any unwanted physical contact. Period. As to why he was not arrested, if VA law is similiar to MD law then a misdemeandor offense has to occur in the officer's presence for an on-view arrest; otherwise information is given to the victim and they must file the charge since the officer did not witness the offense.

Assault - An unlawful threat or attempt to do bodily injury to another. The act or an instance of unlawfully threatening or attempting to injure another.

Battery - an unlawful attack upon another person by beating or wounding, or by touching in an offensive manner.

Definitions found on http://www.dictionary.com.

I say way to go to the employee for pressing charges. Authorized areas within airports are highly secured for good reason. Until the senator has completed the requisite background checks as required by MWAA, he has no business entering those areas any more than I do. To assault and/or batter the employee who was merely protecting his place of employment (gee, could he have been in trouble if he just let the guy run through??) is wrong no matter who you are.

Pictured above, Bob Filner while hearing testimony from 9/11 victims attempts to catch the eye of a staffer and indicates he wants more pizza.

I hope his constituents remember this airline incident when elections roll around!

Is there anyone else in the ol' U S of A that doesn't know that one of the worst places to misbehave is in an airport? Maybe this public "servant" deserves to be awarded a one-way ticket to anyhere out of the country!

ReadBtwthlins,
What do you think is the average time spent in jail following an assault & battery charge, especially when it deals with just pushing aside an arm rather than beating someone?

It's a class 1 misdemeanor, he's not a danger, not a flight risk, etc. It's completely normal that he's out of jail now and will be punished later.

It would help if you learned just a smidge about how suspects are processed before commenting about the "culture of corruption" and claiming Democrats get privileged treament.

Lost his luggage, eh? They lose EVERYONE'S luggage. But in a world in which religious folks blow up an airplane if they don't think we're religious enough, you just can't have a hissy-fit in an airport. Retire if you haven't got the patience to deal with the post-2000 world . . .

As a former constituent, I can honestly say this is Silent Bob's biggest accomplishment in his 15 years in Congress.

Im a Senator, I can do what I want…

Idiot. Nothing more to say than that.

Why was he released? You and I would still be in jail. Is the Airline employee is the problem??

The culture of corruption working its majic. I wonder how many calls Nancy had to make to get him released?

He pushed his arm aside? Is this really assault and battery? While technically correct this is what people do every day. Does this really arise to a criminal act? Or is he just being a jerk? Is this selective prosecution?

he's an IDIOT!

He is not authorized to be in an airline employee area. Period.

No one is allowed to lay hands on anyone. Period.

I hope he's held accountable for his actions but experience tells me he won't be.

Typical Democrats…think that serving the People means that they are better than the People. For shame.

Who does he think he is, a Kennedy?

"Do you know who I am"?

Just another example of Congressmen and women believing that they are privileged people, above the law and beyond the bounds of common courtesy.

Assault and battery huh? For pushing aside someone's arm? I am aware of the definition, but still. The story didn't mention if the employee touched Mr. Filner. By that same reasoning, he should sue the airline company; the employee should have contacted the "appropriate" authorities to deal with the situation. How do you know that the employee was trained in the handling of security issues…"baggage claim worker"?…

I understand that the congressman was being a jerk, but he only pushed the guy. Not stabbed, kicked, bruised in anyway. Aren't we being a little petty(especially with his service to the country, come on, 8 terms as congressman).
I do wonder if refusing to obey an airline employee wouldn't be a crime due to the terrorist threat.

He's my congressman! Can't help but be proud.

CNN 'ticker' where's my comment? congresman says you can't print it or what?

I have truly tried to stick with CNN as an unbiased news source–but you guys get ever-more partisan as the days wear on. I don't even care that you align yourselves with one party–just be honest about it.

It should not have mattered to the airport officers if he is a congressman of BC, or if he is Santa Claus, what would those SAME airport officers do to someone who isn't a congressman pushing past and forcing their way into an area of high security. I always thought those security areas in the airports were just that,very senstitve security areas, not meant for ANY unauthorized person or personel. I would now have to ask, why do we have security at airports when this happens and they get by with it. That airline employee, hats off to that employee. If the judge stands up now and does what is right, what that judge would do if it were anyone else, then justice will be served. If not, then its just the way it is. Either way, that employee did the RIGHT thing, even if the airport officers let the man go on the spot.
That sure gives a person a sense of 'security' now at an airport knowing that can happen and the person can walk.
Looks like congressman met and tried to push WRONG airport employee around to me, again, congrats to the employee. Look at this man's face in this picture, hot headed for sure, I would have done the SAME thing as airline employee. Hope employee gets some kind of recognition for not letting anyone push through what Filner KNEW was a HIGH SECURIY area. That airline employee did their job WELL.
More than I can say for congressman.

Damn. It's a Democrat this time. (At least there's no sex involved.)

Malcom X once said that power never takes a step back, unless confronted with more power - thank God for laws that protect us from those overblown egotistical maniacs, who think they are more important then everybody else.

Completely frivolous charges. Let's waste some taxpayer dollars and court time because my arm got pushed.

This is typical behavior from a Democrat Congressman. They are arrogant, rude, self-centered, and self-absorbed. This is why the American people MUST Elect a Republican to be the Commander-In-Chief in the 2008 Presidential Election!!!!!! Hillary WILL LOSE if the Democrats Nominate her in 2008.

A Speech and Debate Clause defense is likely, or a private fix like the ex-Congresswoman from Georgia who whacked a Capitol cop. The guy needs more tranqs.

All Republicans are arrogant and corrupt but all Democrats are traitors and unpatriotic. I don't have much of choice but to choose a corrupt rep over a traitor.

STUPID IDIOT. WHY DO SOME OF THESE DEMOCRATS CONTINUE TO TARNISH OUR PARTY LIKE THIS. THIS IS THE SORT OF STUFF THAT MAKES US LOSE ELECTIONS AND PROVIDE CANNON FODDER FOR THE SO-CALLED "RIGHT-WING" TALKING-HEADS LIKE SEAN HANNITY, GLENN BECK, BILL "OH REALLY" AND RUSH LIMBO.HAVE THEY FORGOTTEN THAT WE HOLD A SLIM MAJORITY ? REMEMBER CYNTHIA MCKINNEY WHO ASSAULTED A STATE CAPITOL POLICE OFFICER AND THIS BALD IDIOT FROM LOUSIANA (WILLIAM JEFFERSON) WHO WAS HIDDING $90 GRAND IN THE FREEZER. LET US NOT RE-ELECT THSESE . GOOD JOB FOR BOOTING OUT CYNTHIA MCKINNEY.

When exactly, did we begin considering "pushing aside an employee's outstretched hand" assault and battery?

I can understand a tresspassing charge, but assault and battery? This sounds like overkill to me, and a transit worker looking for a legal payday.

I would just like to say that My Congressman Bob Filner is one of the most polite, nice, and honest person i have ever met in my life!

Good for you pressing those charges! I was once a baggage handler 1987 and had a political heavy-weight (woman–no name, but most of us know her) verbally abuse me (over and over again) as I frantically tried to find her luggage. I finally found it, but that woman made me cry when she left our office. We didn't press charges so much in those days. Again, great for you!

Yet another Democratic showing his true colors. Who elects these phonies?

Who does this resprestitive think he is? The sign does not say "airline personal only and congressman too" He attempted to enter a resticted area. He can be charged with endangering an aircraft or crew. The fact that he pushed an employee of an airline to get in there, therefoe he may be charged with assault. He is not above the law, he should be porsecuted and have to pay the price.

Well, His reputation finally caught up to him. Thats exactly why he almost lost his Chairmanship to the VA Committee. Maybe this time he will loss it, Veteran's can only hope!

Just my 2 cents worth, but these Airline people have way too much power for folks that make $11 an hour.
I was charged with the same "crime", for using my camera while leaving a plane. They said I assulted them, even though not a soul was touched. They too insisted on pressing charges, which I soundly defeated in court. But I had to go to court for using a camera to take a shot of my wife leaving the plane! ((don't do it, unless you have permission, then its OK)) Don't forget the charge was assult/battery.. NOT unauthorized use of a camera or something that made sense. Even had Air marshalls on board, but they didn't want to get involved!

Hmmmmm

Notice how it was the baggage claim worker who had to file charges against the Congressman? I find it disgraceful how the politically "plugged in" seem to have the system fall all over itself to avoid having any accountability. If this were myself or any other working class slob, we'd be up tp our chins in SWAT team members. Now watch, the defense for this assault will be "The Congressman was merely testing airport security".

Look for the link to Republican Party. One of the few in Washington finally addressing Veterans Issues and then of course the approach must be slander and discredit!! what other alternative exists!!!??? I have been working with Vietnam Vets assisting them for last twenty five years for PTSD disability claims. What the VA has done to the hundreds of Vietnam Vets I have worked with one wouldn't believe. What they have attempted and succeeded sometimes to do to me one also wouldn't believe. The general public will soon be able to read about it in the book I am writing. This administration ie. VA will stop at nothing to cover there …..!!!!!

One has to wonder if this is what all the fuss at gate C18 was last night. Around 2025-2030 last night at gate C18 (just down from C27 where I was waiting) there were repeated calls for various supervisors and eventually a service director.

When I visited the rest rooms closer to the location, there was quite a crowd.

I had neither the time nor inclination to get closer to the incident however its one of those wierd cases where you are potentially near an event which is reported and you find yourself wondering if this event you are reading about was really the stir you were observing.

Isn't it great to be in a country where nobody is above the law. I hope gets what he deserves for this belligerant behavior.

HAHA Evan that is exactly what they are going to say probably!

I'm sure Bob was just verifying airport security measures. Solid leadership from the Democrat-led congress. Way to go, Bob!

It would appear that the Congressman is too big for his own britches. Shame on him and I hope he is fully prosecuted according to the law. No one should be above the law!!

On a flight to Newark recently my husband was threatened by a flight attendent that she would call the police because she said that he was yelling and rude to her (we were sitting above the motor and he is 75 years old)and he was explaining why I could not give up my aisle seat - I recently had surgery and needed to be close to the bathroom. So, I take this claim with a grain of salt as I believe they are a bit impressed with their power.

Why do I feel like the next story I read about this will have to do with the worker filing some sort of law suit for stress and mental anguish because of this. I am so sure the person was harmed so severely from this 64 yr old man who brushed aside the persons outstretched arm. Just my opinion. I am sorry but dont the police and courts have better things to do, why do people in our country tie up our legal system with such garbage to try and get their 15 minutes. Sad, just sad.

Bob Filner should be on the cover of Vibe instead of Obama. Way to go MC Filner

Can't wait to see what the neo-conservative hacks on here are going to say about this article…I can see it now: "This guy represents the Democrats all across the country, that's why we need to vote them out of office" Oh please…

Another Democratic Representative that thinks the rules do not apply to them. Did they learn nothing from Cynthia McKinney???

Only a politician could pull this crap and not spend time in jail…

Edwards had it right when he was talking about two Americas, he just got mixed up on what two Americas those were. The one with the politicians, the rich and famous who get special treatment live and the one where the average citizens reside and don't get special treatment when they do stupid stuff.

Gosh - I can't IMAGINE why congress has such a low approval rating!

Let's get serious. Pushed his arm aside–you call that assalt! Get Real.

He wouldn't leave the room but wasn't there a few minutes later????

And Scooter Libby get rich and goes free, go figure, must have been a Republican