Economy-Finance

John Kerry’s daughter arrested in Hollywood

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – U.S. Senator John Kerry’s elder daughter, Alexandra, who made a red-carpet splash at the Cannes film festival five years ago in a see-through dress, was arrested in Hollywood on Thursday on suspicion of drunken driving.

The 36-year-old aspiring filmmaker was stopped by police, jailed briefly on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence and released on $5,000 bail, Los Angeles police said.

A statement issued on behalf of the Massachusetts senator and 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, said Kerry’s daughter was pulled over for an expired automobile registration “and was released after the results of a breathalyzer test at the police station were under the legal limit.”

“Senator Kerry supports his daughter and will have no further comment on a private matter,” the statement said.

Celebrity news website TMZ.com reported that Kerry was stopped for a traffic violation and placed under arrest after failing a field sobriety test. According to TMZ, she refused to take a preliminary alcohol screening test at the scene, before a formal blood-alcohol test conducted later at the police station showed her to be just under the legal limit.

Police can still arrest a person on suspicion of drunken driving if officers believe the motorist is impaired.

“It depends on the expertise and opinions of the officers at the time,” said police spokesman Gus Villanueva..

The case was later turned over to prosecutors who will decide whether to formally charge Kerry or dismiss the matter. A spokesman for the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office said the case was under review.

Kerry raised eyebrows during her father’s unsuccessful White House campaign with an appearance in a see-through gown at the Cannes film festival, where her short film, “The Last Full Measure,” premiered that year.

According to the Internet Movie Database, she is in pre-production as co-writer and director of a film based on Jessica Shattuck’s novel “The Hazards of Good Breeding.”

Kerry had minor roles as an actor in the David Mamet films “State and Main” and “Spartan.” She also appeared in several episodes of the short-lived TV political drama “Mr. Sterling,” which starred Josh Brolin.

(Editing by Bob Tourtellotte and Chris Wilson)