Rep. Filner charged with assault

Rep. Bob Filner (D-Calif.) has been charged with assault in connection with a Sunday night incident at a Dulles airport baggage counter.

A Loudoun County magistrate Sunday night issued a summons for Filner to appear in court Oct. 2 on a charge of assault and battery.

{mosads}The incident took place at about 6 p.m. Sunday, according to a statement issued by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. Airport police were called to the United Airlines baggage claim office at Dulles for a report of an incident with a passenger regarding his baggage.

Someone alleged the man had tried to enter an area where only airline employees are allowed to go, according to the statement, which did not say who made the allegation.

The man pushed aside an employee’s outstretched arm and refused to leave the area when asked to do so, according to the allegations in the statement.

When police arrived a few minutes later, the man had left the office and was waiting near a baggage carousel.

Officers interviewed the man, along with witnesses. He was allowed to leave, but officers advised him that the airline employee would pursue charges.

Later that evening, the airline employee went to the magistrate, who issued the summons. The charge is for a “Class 1” misdemeanor, which according to a state website can be punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of as much as $2,500.

Filner’s office issued a statement Thursday saying, “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.”