UPDATED – Webb to Make Major Announcement Later Today

Sen. Thinskin Gump (D-WashPo) is scheduled to make a major announcement later today.  Details are still sketchy, but we understand that during the Senate Democrat caucus meeting this morning that Webb had some sort of dust-up with Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) and it may have something to do with that.

UPDATE:  I’ve just heard from a friend who works for the Capitol Police that officers were dispatched to the aforementioned meeting this morning.  More to come…

UPDATE 2:  An old classmate of mine from law school who is a Senate Democrat staffer e-mailed us a first-hand account of what went on –

Just saw your post on Webb and wanted to get this in ASAP to you.  I was in the meeting this morning with my boss and caught the end of it.  I’m not sure what started the argument between Webb and Byrd, but Webb got pretty hot under the collar and took a swing at Byrd.  Sen. Kerry was near Webb and managed to hold his arm back before he could actually hit Byrd.  Kerry held Webb back and then Byrd started to flail at Webb like he was going to go after Webb.  That’s when Sen. Levin stepped in and restrained Byrd.    Lautenberg called in the Capitol Police who were stationed outside the caucus room.  The whole thing was just so surreal!

UPDATE 3: Obviously, we don’t have any sort of “in” with Webb or any of his staff given our harsh treatment of him over the years, so we’re pretty much in news blackout on this announcement.  The only thing we can pass along is that we have heard from others on the Hill that some sort of statement will be issued from his office around 4 p.m. today.

Now is your chance to guess what it will be.  Will he be entering an Anger Management Clinic for treatment?  Committed to a psychiatric ward?  Changing parties again (Socialist Workers Party anyone)?  Resigning from the Senate now that he has held this job longer than any other he ever has and is bored?  Predict away!

UPDATE 4:  We’ve been sent the following photo that someone took with their camera phone.  Not much, but you can see Sen. Lautenberg motioning from the top of a chair for help in breaking up the melee.

UPDATE 5:  In a shocking turn of events, Webb’s announcement is unrelated to this morning’s scuffle.  In a statement issued by his senate office, Webb has acknowledged a previously undisclosed “love child” that he fathered.

Now we know the REAL story behind such songs as “Never Gonna Give You Up” and “Cry For Help.”