Novak Hit & Run - On Whom Does He Have Dirt??

I came into the office and was greated with the news that Robert Novak was treated like the celebrity that he is. Here's how I see it:

• Novak hit a pedestrian in a crosswalk
• Pedestrian rolled up onto the windshield of Novak's Corvette
• Pedestrian subsequently rolled off the car
• Novak drove off from the scene without stopping to render aid
• A lawyer on a bicycle who was commuting to work chased Novak and told him that he should not drive off after colliding with a pedestrian
• Said lawyer moved his bicycle to a position in front of Novak's car as it appeared Novak was also trying to run away from the lawyer
• The Washington DC police officer on the scene apparently issued Novak a $50 citation....and nothing else.

OK, what is wrong with this picture?

Who said it was OK to issue such a light citation?? Was it the officer's own judgment? Was it someone higher up the chain of command instructing the officer to go easy on Novak?

Some of the blogs I've seen and heard about today are comparing the $50 citation to other things that can be had for $50...such as Cheesecake Factory delivered for lunch. Or other, very serious wrongdoing such as being two weeks late on one's vehicle registration renewal.

I haven't seen anyone asking the important, serious questions, such as:

How would an unknown person in exactly the same circumstances have been treated?

Did Novak have dirt on somebody in the police department and therefore was let off lightly?

Did someone in the DC Police actually think that this would be a "plus" for their reputation?

From how far up the "chain" did this "act of compassion" originate?

I'm pissed off about this - are YOU?

D