The half brother of President Barack Obama was arrested in Kenya on charges of marijuana possession. George Obama, who does not know his famous brother very well, denies the allegations.
George Obama is being held in a jail in the capital of Nairobi on charges of possession of cannabis and resisting arrest, according to a
CNN news report. Police say that he will appear in court on Monday.
George denies the charges against him, claiming that he doesn't know why he has been arrested:
"They took me from my home," he said, "I don't know why they are charging me."
Although George and President Obama have had little interaction in the past, the President has described his accounts of meeting his half brother as "painful" in his recent memoirs.
George and President Obama are related because they share the same father, Barack Obama, Sr. who died when the boys were young.
This isn't the first time in history that a President's brother has proven to create a ripple of controversy or scandal for their famous relative. President Bill Clinton actually received quite a bit of heat for his pardon of
Roger Clinton, Jr., the half brother of Bill, in relation to a criminal drug history.
Of course the brother of President Jimmy Carter, Billy, brings back memories of crazy runway behaviour and good 'ol Billygate. There is even a
list of well known relatives associated with the U.S. Presidents, mainly for controversy or scandals bringing a bad light to the President.
Way to go George!