Vitter ducks reporters, crashes into sign

There really isn't much else to say about this story. Talking Points Memo reports that Senator David Vitter (R-LA) ran over a "No Parking" lot sign at Gonzales' City Hall, today, in his attempt to escape reporters' questions regarding his involvement in the DC Madam scandal. The trial is now opening for the "DC Madam," Deborah Jeane Palfrey, who is being accused of running a high-class prostitution ring. Vitter's name and phone number were recorded in Palfrey's phone records.

According to WAFB Channel 9 News, Vitter was at Gonzales City Hall, attending a town hall meeting to discuss domestic issues with voters. After the meeting, Vitter gave a brief statement to reporters, saying, "I do want to reiterate how sorry I am for causing real pain to the folks I love so dearly, starting with my family and certainly including the people of Louisiana." Vitter then quickly left. Here is how WAFB Channel 9 reports the "accident" which Vitter was involved in:

Vitter then quickly left. As his driver was leaving Gonzales City Hall, he accidentally backed into a "no parking" sign in the parking lot of City Hall. The sign was placed inside an orange traffic cone. There was visible damage to the left rear of the vehicle. Vitter was in the passenger seat. His driver pulled forward, and then left the scene. A WAFB 9NEWS photographer captured the accident on videotape. Vitter spokesman Joel Digrado did not respond to a request for comment.

You can watch the video of this accident here. From YouTube:



WAFB Channel 9 News reports that Gonzales Police Chief Bill Landry received a phone call from Vitter's office "offering to pay any damages." Landry said that "the sign was slightly bent and was straightened out again," but did not need to be replaced. The incident will not be pursued. "We've had several of our police units hit the same sign," Chief Landry said. I guess Vitter will get off scott-free for running over a no parking sign.

Now if he could just get those pesky reporters from constantly asking questions about the DC Madam, then maybe Vitter won't have to run into any more no parking signs?

Update: Now it appears that Vitter may end up having to testify before the DC Madam trial. From ABC News:

A U.S. senator who admitted to using the "D.C. Madam" escort service is fighting a subpoena to testify at her trial –- down to the opening gavel this morning.

Defending herself against a sortie of felony charges stemming from running an alleged interstate prostitution business, Deborah Jeane Palfrey has subpoenaed Sen. David Vitter, R-La., to testify.

[....]

At a last-minute hearing Friday, U.S. District Court Judge James Robertson appeared to reject an argument by a lawyer who has represented Vitter that his client's testimony would be "totally inappropriate," reported Legal Times. The judge declined to nullify the subpoena.

This story is getting really interesting. I wonder just how many names of DC politicians are in Deborah Jeane Palfrey's little black book?