Posted on 04/06/2006 11:07:31 AM PDT by Porsche060
McKinney apologizes on House floor Federal grand jury considers charges in scuffle with Capitol police
By BOB KEMPER The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 04/06/06
Washington – With a federal grand jury considering whether to charge her with assault, Rep. Cynthia McKinney of Georgia went on the House floor Thursday and apologized for her role in a scuffle with a Capitol Police officer last week.
"There should not have been any physical contact in this incident," McKinney, surrounded by a handful of lawmakers, said. Stephen Crowley/The New York Times (ENLARGE) 'I want to categorically deny that I did anything wrong,' Rep. McKinney had said on WETA-FM in suburban Washington Wednesday.
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"I am sorry this misunderstanding happened at all and I regret its escalation and I apologize," McKinney said, drawing applause from the partially-filled chamber.
To demonstrate her "gratitude and appreciation" for Capitol police, McKinney said she would vote for a House resolution praising the police that was originally introduced by Republicans who wanted to use it to symbolically chastise McKinney.
McKinney appeared on the House floor around midday just as a federal grand jury was preparing to hear from subpoenaed congressional aides who witnessed her confrontation with a Capitol Hill police officer last Wednesday.
An officer, who didn't recognize McKinney, tried to stop her from going around a security checkpoint in a House office building as members of Congress and their staffs are allowed to do. The officer called to McKinney to stop and, when she didn't, put his hand on her, prompting McKinney to spin around and allegedly strike the officer.
The federal prosecutor in Washington turned the case over to the grand jury to determine whether charges should be filed against McKinney. The charge can range from assault on a police officer, a felony, to simple assault, a misdemeanor. The grand jury and prosecutor also could just drop charges.
McKinney has been keeping a very high profile since the incident occurred, asserting in press conferences and television interviews that she was the victim of racial profiling. The officer who stopped McKinney, an African-American, was white.
McKinney made no reference to racial profiling in her statement on the House floor.
But even as McKinney appeared to be trying to put the issue to rest, a bodyguard she hired – reportedly a former Georgia state trooper – was raising another furor when he threatened a television reporter trying to interview McKinney outside the Capitol just minutes before she appeared on the House floor.
When the reporter from Cox Broadcasting tried to ask McKinney about the grand jury, the bodyguard told him, "I'm going to put your ass in jail. I'm a police officer," a videotape of the incident shows.
Asked if he worked for Capitol police, the man said, "I work for Miss McKinney."
Word that McKinney had hired a bodyguard roiled the ranks of the Capitol police who were worried that the guard was carrying a weapon. They said they are concerned about what the bodyguard might do if Capitol police challenged McKinney at a security checkpoint.
McKinney's office did not return repeated phone calls seeking comment.
Scott MacFarlane of Cox Broadcasting contributed to this report.
If her bodyguard is carrying, is she getting ready for a shoot out?
Gee. McKinney is having a really bad hair week.
And the Libs like to talk about Conservative "Police States" and "Storm Troopers".
And the Libs like to talk about Conservative "Police States" and "Storm Troopers".
Just keeps getting better and better.
You ain't really a playa without an entourage......
This just keeps getting better and better. If this is was recorded then I would offer this is a man impersonating a peace officer and using that status to intimidate.
Maybe another set of charges will be due?
When the reporter from Cox Broadcasting tried to ask McKinney about the grand jury, the bodyguard told him, "I'm going to put your ass in jail. I'm a police officer," a videotape of the incident shows.
Sounds like impersonating an officer to me.....
The rest of the dems are getting it from each other.
Run for your lives.
The gift that keeps on giving ping.
Yep, those hits just keep on coming, don't they? Sounds like Cindy and her new bodyguard went to the same charm school.
Methinks Hillery has made some phone calls to her Arkansas mafia buddies to take care of some bidness in DC.
Pass teh popcorn, please!
Is there any way we can make her a member of Congress in perpetuity?
'I want to categorically deny that I did anything wrong,' Rep. McKinney had said on WETA-FM in suburban Washington Wednesday.
Nice apology.
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