Woman says she was fired for refusing to serve senator

If you've ever been refused a drink in a bar because you've, uh, overindulged, you may be in fairly distinguished company: A former bartender at a Capitol-area watering hole in Austin claims she refused state Sen. John Whitmire of Houston another drink — and got fired for doing it. Rebekah L. Lear claims she was working at the Cloak Room, a legislative hangout, on March 8 when Whitmire arrived "acting intoxicated" and with a "glazed look in his eyes." Lear said she served Whitmire a J&B and water, but when he asked for another scotch, she gave him a glass of water instead, telling him she couldn't serve him another drink because he was intoxicated.

Things went downhill from there, Lear said: She claims Whitmire threatened to call the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and have her fired, saying he "would have her job" if she didn't bring him another drink. Lear reportedly told Whitmire she would call the police if he didn't simmer down, and she said Whitmire "responded that the police would not come because all he would have to do was to make a phone call." After some more threats, Lear said, Whitmire left the bar. Lear claims that, the following day, her boss — the bar's manager — told her that "Sen. Whitmire could kill us," going on to say that "we will never get in trouble in this bar with senators in here. The TABC's not going to come in here."

Lear was fired from the Cloak Room, and now she's suing the bar for unspecified damages. The AP couldn't reach the bar owner or Lear or her lawyer, but it did talk to Lara Wendler, Whitmire's legislative director, who said she and four other people were with the senator that day at the bar. Wendler called Lear's claims a "complete fabrication," saying Lear refused to serve Whitmire any drinks and never told him that she thought he was intoxicated. Should be interesting to see how this all works out.