President's nephew is arrested for drunkenness

John Ellis Bush Jnr, the youngest son of Jeb Bush, Governor of Florida, was charged with public intoxication at a city centre entertainment strip in Austin. The 21-year-old spent several hours in jail before being released on bail.

According to the local sheriff's spokesman, Roger Wade, Mr Bush was arrested at about 2.30am on Friday in Austin's Sixth Street bar district. The arrest report said the arresting officer concluded Mr Bush was so intoxicated " he was a danger to himself".

The report by Phillip Asbedo said Mr Bush "continually pushed against this officer and struggled as I attempted to handcuff him. Subject further resisted by pushing back with his body as he was restrained" in an Austin police transport van.

Austin is the home to the University of Texas, which Governor Bush attended, and the city where Mr Bush Jnr lives. But agents said they did not know Mr Bush's identity until after they arrested him and looked at his Florida driver's licence.

Governor Bush and his wife, Columba, declined to discuss the arrest. Mr Bush told reporters in Miami: "My son's doing fine. It's a private matter. We're sad for him."

Mr Bush Jnr is the second of the Governor's three children to get into trouble with the law. His daughter Noelle was arrested in January 2002 and accused of trying to obtain the anti-anxiety drug Xanax with a false prescription. She completed a drug rehabilitation programme and a judge eventually dismissed the charges against her.

A public intoxication conviction carries a maximum $500 (£275) fine. A resisting-arrest conviction carries a maximum punishment of one year in the county jail and a fine of $4,000.