Posted on 03/29/2006 2:11:03 PM PST by freedomlover
Just heard driving home Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga) has been accused of slapping a Capitol Guard (?) over some type of dispute. 10 second story nothing follows.
So they're waiting 'til the end of today's session to arrest her?
Mckinney's hand slapped more people than all my guns combined.
Yep. That's about it.
LOL no kidding
Didn't your mom warn you about pulling your tagline?
No, I'm pretty sure sessions go on and on. The politicians have to spend as much of our money as possible and that takes more than one day. When they finally get it all spent, they will formally adjourn and run for the border.
But don't Critters have some kind of squirrely immunity from arrest while Congress is in session? Seems to me I recall this question coming up with regard to Gary Condidit.
C. Members of Congress:
1. Members of Congress may not be detained for the issuance of a citation while they are in transit to or from the Congress of the United States.
2. If a member of Congress is stopped for a traffic infraction, he shall, upon presentation of valid credentials, be immediately released. The officer may then obtain a citation for the member of Congress covering the observed violation and make arrangements to serve the citation at a time when the member of Congress is not in transit to or from Congress, or on official business.
Did he "look jewish?"
I'm not sure how it works with Congress. I suspect the critters are immune from anything but high crimes while Congress is in session. If so, an arrest would have to wait until adjournment. Perhaps we have an expert on congressional crime who can enlighten us.
I think he did too.
It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly American criminal class except Congress.
Mark Twain
Hehehehehe....hehehehehe....I'm laughing now, but I know I'll be crying later when it really sinks in that she's a member of Congress. How long can this country suffer fools like Cynthia McKinney?
Toilet papered trees? Refresh my memory....
Is this what is meant by the expression "bitch slapped?"
Rep. Cynthia McKinney of Georgia struck a Capitol Hill police officer Wednesday morning after the officer, not recognizing her as a member of Congress, tried to stop her from stepping around a security checkpoint, police confirmed.Even the AJC doesn't can't work any sympathy for the wench.The incident "has been brought to our attention and it is being investigated," said Sgt. Kimberly Schneider, a spokeswoman for Capitol Hill police.
Congressional and police authorities, who spoke on condition that they not be named, said the investigation into the incident would stretch into today and that no arrest warrant would be issued for the DeKalb County Democrat — if, indeed, one is — until it is completed.
McKinney's aides said they planned to release a public statement about the incident, but had not by Wednesday evening.
A deputy police chief and a representative of the House's sergeant-at-arms visited McKinney's congressional office Wednesday afternoon. Neither commented to reporters. The officer involved was not identified, but police officials said he was ready to press charges against McKinney – a rare, if not unprecedented, action by a Capitol police officer against a member of Congress.
Police and congressional officials said they were not aware of any other incidents in which a member of Congress struck a Capitol Hill police officer or an officer pressed charges against a member, though conflicts between members and police at security checkpoints are not rare.
The incident occurred when McKinney was entering a House office building on Capitol Hill. She started walking around a metal detector and X-ray machine at one of the building's entrances, as members of Congress are allowed to do, when the officer tried to stop her, congressional and police officials said.
The officer either tapped McKinney on the shoulder or grabbed her arm, they said. McKinney spun around and struck the officer, though there are conflicting reports about whether she slapped him, punched him in the chest or hit him with a cellphone she had in her hand, they said.
Congressional staffers who have worked with McKinney said several factors may have contributed to the officer's failure to recognize McKinney as a member of Congress.
McKinney usually does not wear the special lapel pin given to members of Congress to make them easier to identify, and she apparently was not wearing it Wednesday morning, congressional and police officials said. Kerri Hanley, of the House sergeant-at-arms' office, said members are not required to wear the pin, though most do.
Police also keep books with pictures of each member at security checkpoints in the Capitol and in House and Senate office buildings to help them recognize lawmakers. However, even if the officer had consulted the book, he may not have recognized McKinney, who has altered her hairstyle since her official House photo was taken, congressional aides noted.
This is not the first time McKinney has had an encounter with Capitol Hill police. When she first arrived in Congress in 1993, an officer failed to recognize her because she was new and not wearing the congressional pin. After she complained, police put pictures of McKinney up at each security checkpoint to ensure it would not happen again.
McKinney also once ran into problems at the White House. USA Today reported that when McKinney, who is African-American, and a young white aide arrived at a welcoming ceremony in May 1998 for then-Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, the guard at the gate deferred to the aide as the person of authority. Once in the executive mansion, McKinney said, another guard tried to stop her until Rep. James Moran (D-Va.) stepped in.
"I am absolutely sick and tired of having to have my appearance at the White House validated by white people," McKinney wrote in a complaint to then-President Bill Clinton. "I don't need to be stopped or questioned because I happen to look like hired help."
The White House apologized to McKinney.
Republicans were quick to comment on Wednesday's incident, circulating an e-mail noting that McKinney's confrontation with the Capitol Hill officer came on the same day that her party announced an election-year "affirmation" of its commitment to shoring up the nation's security.
"On the day when Democrats held a media stunt to unveil their security agenda, Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.) hit a Capitol police officer. Not exactly a show of support for law enforcement," wrote Sean Spicer, spokesman for the House Republican Conference.
Brian Robinson, an aide to Republican Rep. Lynn Westmoreland of Georgia, said he spotted McKinney on Wednesday evening as she entered the Longworth House Office Building. Robinson said she walked around the security checkpoint, then — though no one tried to stop her — walked back and showed the police officer her congressional ID. Robinson said she still wasn't wearing her congressional lapel pin.
LMBO! I was about to post the same, but I checked replies first.
I proudly FReeped Jihad Cyndy at a local event in Decatur about 3-4 years ago.
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