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Congressman's Daughter Arrested For Simple Battery, Father Retires
POSTED: 10:18 am EST January 25,
2008
UPDATED: 11:49 pm EST January 25,
2008
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. -- Authorities said Kathryn Weldon made it clear to Brevard County deputies when they were arresting her that she was the daughter of a congressman and would have lawyers waiting at the jail.
ARREST AFFIDAVIT: Arrest Affidavit For Kathryn (Katie) Weldon
But deputies said she didn't get any special treatment. Weldon, 21, was booked, put in jailhouse clothing and sat in the Brevard County jail for more than three hours waiting to get bailed out.The oldest child of republican Congressman Dave Weldon is accused of taking off a high heel shoe and hitting a security guard at the County Line Saloon across the face with it.Aneef Solis was back at work Friday morning, but with bandages on his face."I can't talk about it," Solis said as orders from his attorney advised him not to discuss the case.Investigators said security was called in to the dance floor around 1:30 Friday morning because it appeared a fight was about to break out. Authorities said Solis was part of the security team, asking people to step back when an intoxicated Weldon struck him with the heel.Kathryn Weldon has denied any wrong-doing and her father reiterated that in a statement he released writing."After talking with her we feel quite certain she did nothing to merit her arrest and believe this will be collaborated by others," Congressman Weldon wrote.But deputies said they, too, have eyewitnesses that said it was Kathryn Weldon who struck the bouncer without provocation.Investigators said depending on what doctors say about how bad the cut is on Solis' face, authorities could ask the state attorney's office to upgrade the charges from misdemeanor battery to felony battery.Coincidentally, on the same day, Congressman Weldon announced his retirement. The doctor from Palm Bay wants to return to his medical practice full time, said spokesman Jeremy Steffens. "Fourteen years is a long time to serve in Congress. He is very passionate about practicing medicine," Steffens said. Weldon was considered a likely target for Democrats eager to pickup Republican seats this year. He underperformed at the polls in 2006 when he was re-elected to District 15, which represents the Atlantic coast from Vero Beach north to Cape Canaveral. He was re-elected with 56 percent of the vote, but against a weak Democratic candidate who spent far less money. Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole, and chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said the party would work to find a GOP candidate to run for Weldon's seat. Weldon served as an Army physician and worked in private practice in Melbourne before running for office in 1994. U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney, R-Oviedo, said Weldon would be missed. "Dr. Weldon has been a leader in Congress for the needs of his constituents. His expertise in the field of medicine has been respected and valued by his colleagues," Feeney said.
ARREST AFFIDAVIT: Arrest Affidavit For Kathryn (Katie) WeldonBut deputies said she didn't get any special treatment. Weldon, 21, was booked, put in jailhouse clothing and sat in the Brevard County jail for more than three hours waiting to get bailed out.The oldest child of republican Congressman Dave Weldon is accused of taking off a high heel shoe and hitting a security guard at the County Line Saloon across the face with it.Aneef Solis was back at work Friday morning, but with bandages on his face."I can't talk about it," Solis said as orders from his attorney advised him not to discuss the case.Investigators said security was called in to the dance floor around 1:30 Friday morning because it appeared a fight was about to break out. Authorities said Solis was part of the security team, asking people to step back when an intoxicated Weldon struck him with the heel.Kathryn Weldon has denied any wrong-doing and her father reiterated that in a statement he released writing."After talking with her we feel quite certain she did nothing to merit her arrest and believe this will be collaborated by others," Congressman Weldon wrote.But deputies said they, too, have eyewitnesses that said it was Kathryn Weldon who struck the bouncer without provocation.Investigators said depending on what doctors say about how bad the cut is on Solis' face, authorities could ask the state attorney's office to upgrade the charges from misdemeanor battery to felony battery.Coincidentally, on the same day, Congressman Weldon announced his retirement. The doctor from Palm Bay wants to return to his medical practice full time, said spokesman Jeremy Steffens. "Fourteen years is a long time to serve in Congress. He is very passionate about practicing medicine," Steffens said. Weldon was considered a likely target for Democrats eager to pickup Republican seats this year. He underperformed at the polls in 2006 when he was re-elected to District 15, which represents the Atlantic coast from Vero Beach north to Cape Canaveral. He was re-elected with 56 percent of the vote, but against a weak Democratic candidate who spent far less money. Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole, and chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said the party would work to find a GOP candidate to run for Weldon's seat. Weldon served as an Army physician and worked in private practice in Melbourne before running for office in 1994. U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney, R-Oviedo, said Weldon would be missed. "Dr. Weldon has been a leader in Congress for the needs of his constituents. His expertise in the field of medicine has been respected and valued by his colleagues," Feeney said.
Copyright 2008 by WFTV.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
