The niece of a presidential hopeful, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, was handed down new charges a year after she was kicked off a New Orleans flight during a drunken, drug-induced Thanksgiving Day meltdown that left several people with minor injuries.
The Jefferson Parish district attorney filed charges against Shannon Epstein on Monday relating to her being kicked off an early morning Spirit Airlines flight from New Orleans to New Jersey on Nov. 24, 2022, according to NOLA.com.
Epstein, 26, was charged with one felony count of resisting police by force or violence and two misdemeanor counts of disturbing the peace by public intoxication, the outlet reported.
The meltdown occurred at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport as the Newark-bound flight was taxiing for takeoff at 6 a.m, when Epstein allegedly asked a Latino family sitting near her if they were “smuggling cocaine.”
She then allegedly shouted at officers and refused to get off the jetway.
Shannon Epstein was charged with one felony count of resisting police by force or violence and two misdemeanor counts of disturbing the peace by public intoxication on Monday.
At one point, she “broke free” as officers tried to handcuff her, forcing cops to block her path.
She “was belligerent and displayed unusual strength” during the struggle, according to the report.
After she was placed in handcuffs, Epstein was alleged to have continued to “struggle against handcuff, kick, spit on deputies, and attempt to break free.”
Seven deputies were forced to strap Epstein to a wheelchair after she refused to get off the jetway and showed “unusual strength” while foaming at the mouth and fighting the cops.
Epstein name-dropped both her uncle and former President Donald Trump as police were arresting her. CJ GUNTHER/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockWhile the deputies engaged with her, Epstein reportedly name-dropped her famous political uncle and former President Donald Trump.
“Are you serious? Do you know who I am?” Epstein screamed, according to a police report viewed by The Post at the time. “I’m related to some very powerful people and I need to get back on that plane to New Jersey.”
“Do you know who I am? I’m Chris Christie’s daughter and you’re so f–ked. You will lose your job over this s–t. I know Donald Trump,” she later screamed.
Epstein “was belligerent and displayed unusual strength” and was foaming at the mouth, according to the report..
At one point, police tackled Epstein to the floor, before she bit one officer on the bicep and “tore the skin away.”
She was arrested on six counts of battery of a police officer, three counts of disturbing the peace, one of resisting arrest by force, and one of remaining at a place after being forbidden, NOLA.com reported.
She was booked and released on the same day at Jefferson Parish Correctional Center on a $10,750 bond.
If convicted on the new charges, the most serious of the ones she faces, Epstein could face one to three years in prison.
