Bush Daughter: 'No Contest' to Drinking Charge

W A S H I N G T O N, June 8, 2001 -- Barbara Bush, one of President Bush's19-year-old twin daughters, has pleaded no contest to an underagedrinking count stemming from an incident last month in arestaurant.

The other daughter, Jenna Bush, has pleaded innocent to a charge of misrepresenting her age while trying to buy a margarita withsomeone else's identification. Barbara Bush was cited along with her sister after their visitMay 29 to Chuy's Mexican restaurant in Austin. She did not appearin Austin municipal court when her lawyer, Gerry Morris, entered theplea for her Thursday. She was sentenced to probation and eight hours of communityservice and must attend an alcohol awareness class, according tocourt records obtained today. She was also ordered to pay $100 incourt fees. The probation, technically called "deferreddisposition," runs through Sept. 7.

A letter dated June 6 from the court to Jenna Bush's attorneyBill Allison, set a court date of July 31. It indicates that Jennapleaded innocent to the charge. The court had previously said both daughters were scheduled toappear June 18. Two weeks before the May 29 incident, Jenna Bush pleaded nocontest to underage drinking charges. She was ordered to takealcohol counseling and perform community service. The White House has called the incidents a private familymatter.