Obama uncle arrested on drink drive charge

Aug 30, 2011 |

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Barack Obama

An uncle of President Barack Obama was arrested last week near Boston on a charge of drunk driving, police said on Monday.

Onyango Obama was arrested in Framingham, Massachusetts, on August 24 and charged in Framingham District Court with operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

At the time of his arrest, Obama had "red glassy eyes, slurred speech and a strong odor of alcohol," police Lieutenant Blaise Tersoni told AFP.

According to the police report, he insisted he'd had "only two beers," but still failed several tests. Then when asked if he wanted to call someone, he responded: "I think I'll call the White House."

Obama was being held without bail on an immigration detainer -- a status usually for people in the United States without a valid visa.

The president's extended family on his Kenyan father's side made news last year when his aunt, Zeituni Onyango, who is the sister of Onyango Obama, won a court battle for asylum after being in the country illegally.

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