http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPolitics.asp?Page=\Politics\archive\200603\POL20060331e.html(LOL, give this another week, and the Capitol police will be apologizing to
her)
McKinney Accuses Capitol Police of 'Inappropriate Touching'
By Randy Hall
CNSNews.com Staff Writer/Editor
March 31, 2006
(CNSNews.com) - Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.) claimed Friday that an altercation involving her and a Capitol Police officer two days earlier was "instigated by the inappropriate touching and stopping of me, a female black Congresswoman."
During a press conference at Howard University in Washington, D.C., McKinney said she had been advised by her attorneys not to discuss the facts of the case. "I deeply regret that this incident occurred," she said, "and I am certain that after a full review of the facts, I will be exonerated."
The six-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives was accompanied by her lawyer, James W. Myart, Jr., who claimed his client was "just a victim of being in Congress while black.
"Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, like thousands of average Americans across this country, is, too, a victim of the excessive use of force by law enforcement officials because of how she looks and the color of her skin," Myart said.
McKinney and Myart were surrounded by a small crowd of supporters, including several schoolchildren who happened to be in Washington, D.C., for a field trip. Also present were actor Danny Glover and singer Harry Belafonte, both of whom are regularly involved in political activism.
Regarding the Georgia Democrat, Glover stated "she alone has stood up for issues that are important to this country and important to the world. We're not here to judge the merits of the case. We're here to support our sister."
"In America and Washington, D.C., issues of race have always been at play and have often been central to justice miscarried," Belafonte stated. "We're here to be sure that this process is handled fairly and is not rooted in a familiar racist behavior, that the outcome of this is going to be done on a very fair and a very square basis."
As Cybercast News Service previously reported, the incident took place at about 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, as McKinney entered the Longworth House Office Building.
When she tried to bypass a metal detector, the six-term congresswoman -- who was not wearing the lapel pin that enables members of Congress to enter and exit the building freely -- was stopped by an officer with the Capitol Police.
The officer reportedly put his hand on McKinney's arm to get her attention, and she reacted by striking him in the chest.
"I was urgently trying to get to an important meeting on time to fulfill my obligations to my constituents," McKinney said later in a statement on her website. "Unfortunately, the police officer did not recognize me as a member of Congress, and a confrontation ensued. ... I deeply regret that the incident occurred."
On Thursday, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said she "wouldn't make a big deal" out of the confrontation, which she called a "mistake" that happened because of the "unfortunate lack of recognition of a member of Congress."
Nevertheless, rumors began to circulate around Washington that McKinney might be charged with a crime for hitting the officer, so the Georgia Democrat scheduled a press conference for Friday.
Myart also responded to the rumors by telling reporters he was considering filing charges against the officer for using "excessive force" while confronting his client.
"Congresswoman McKinney, in a hurry, was essentially chased and grabbed by the officer," Myart said. "She reacted instinctively in an effort to defend herself."
However, at least one Republican could not resist commenting on the congresswoman's decision to attend the press conference with Glover.
"Rep. McKinney appearing with the star of 'Lethal Weapon?' Not exactly the message you want to be sending," said Ron Bonjean, spokesman for House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.).
