Bush Daughters Charged with Violating State Alcohol Laws June 1, 2001
News Summary
Jenna and Barbara Bush, the 19-year-old twin daughters of President Bush, were charged by Austin, Texas, police with violating state alcoholic-beverage laws, the Associated Press reported May 31.According to a statement released by the Austin Police Department, Barbara Bush was charged with being a minor in possession of alcohol. Jenna Bush was accused of misrepresenting her age by trying to use false identification to buy alcohol. It is the second alcohol offense for Jenna Bush.
Both charges are Class C misdemeanors and carry a fine of up to $500, attendance at an alcohol-awareness course, community service, and a 30-day driver's-license suspension. Because it is her second offense, Jenna Bush could lose her driver's license for up to 90 days.
Jesse Day-Wickham, a girlfriend of the Bush twins, also was charged with being a minor in possession of alcohol.
According to police, Jenna Bush ordered a margarita at Chuy's Restaurant, a popular Mexican eatery in Austin. When asked to provide identification proving she was 21, she showed a valid driver's license belonging to someone else. She was not served alcohol, but Barbara Bush and Day-Wickham were.
Assistant Police Chief Jimmy Chapman said restaurant patrons recognized Jenna Bush and notified employees that the teens were trying to buy alcohol. The manager of the restaurant called 911.
The White House warned the media about its coverage of the incident. "I would urge all of you to very carefully think through how much you want to pursue this," said press secretary Ari Fleischer. "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."
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