California delegate leaves convention after trying to impersonate member of Congress

Sept. 2, 2012: A production crew prepares the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. (AP)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A California delegate has been ejected from the Democratic National Convention after he allegedly tried to impersonate a member of Congress and hassled the hotel staff trying to assist a drunken, passed-out delegate.

The incident unfolded early Sunday morning when both men arrived by taxi at the Blake Hotel. The one delegate was seen being carried into the hotel at about 2 a.m. and either fell or was dropped, which drew concern among hotel staffers who called 911, according to news reports.

Police were called after the delegate wrangled with the staffers and the paramedics, who upon arriving strapped the unconscious delegate to a backboard and took him to a hospital.

The delegate argued the unconscious man was drunk and needed only to be put to bed and allegedly told police he was a member of Congress.

The unidentified delegate was not arrested but was kicked out of the hotel and will not attend the three-day convention that begins Monday. He has since apologized.

“This afternoon, California Democratic Party staff met with the delegate who was part of the disturbance in the hotel lobby and asked him to leave the hotel and not partake in convention activities,” California Democratic Party spokesman Tenoch Flores told the Charlotte Observer. “The delegate has apologized to hotel staff and earlier today agreed to leave the hotel and forgo official delegation activities in Charlotte.”

The other unidentified delegate was treated at the hospital and released.