Posted on 06/04/2006 10:59:35 PM PDT by Utah Girl
The grand jury investigation of 4th District Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney enters its third month today with no hint from the federal prosecutor about how much longer it will take to settle a case that legal experts said should have been wrapped up in a matter of days.
McKinney was accused of striking a Capitol Hill police officer March 29, and the case was referred to the grand jury April 5. The drawn-out process of deciding whether she should be charged with assault has police fuming that the DeKalb County Democrat is getting preferential treatment from a politically motivated prosecutor.
"Right from the start this U.S. attorney has handled this case differently from every other case," said Chuck Canterbury, national president of the Fraternal Order of Police. "And it's because she is a sitting congresswoman."
McKinney's office and the office of U.S. Attorney Ken Wainstein declined to comment.
The case comes at a time of heightened tensions in Washington. A series of arrests, indictments and criminal investigations involving at least five members of Congress have fueled disputes between Capitol police and Congress and between Capitol Hill and the Justice Department.
Republicans and Democrats alike furiously denounced a recent FBI raid on the office of Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) as a violation of the constitutional separation of powers.
And Capitol police, already angry over McKinney's case, bristled when superiors ordered them last month to drive Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) home rather than investigate the possibility that he'd been drinking after he crashed his car into a barricade near the Capitol. Kennedy later blamed the incident on prescription drugs he'd been taking and checked into a rehabilitation facility.
What most angers the police about the McKinney case is that it involves an assault — no matter how minor — of a police officer. Police reported that McKinney hit an officer in the chest after he failed to recognize her as a member of Congress and tried to stop her from going around a security checkpoint, something members of Congress and their aides are typically allowed to do.
"It's obviously frustrating for us," said Andy Maybo, head of the Capitol Hill police union. "This sends out the message that it's OK to hit a police officer — and it's not, regardless of who you are."
In legal terms, McKinney's case "is as simple as you can get," said George Washington University legal expert Jonathan Turley. Usually anyone who hits a police officer is immediately arrested on felony charges, police and legal experts said.
In political terms, however, Mc-Kinney's case is far from simple. "It is loaded with emotion, and I think the U.S. attorney is being very, very conservative in how they approach this."
Given the political sensitivity — made all the more delicate by Mc-Kinney's early accusations that she was the victim of racial profiling — legal experts said it's understandable that no decision has been made.
"That would be unusual for a run-of-the-mill case, but this isn't a run-of-the-mill case," said Frank Carter, former head of the public defender service in Washington whose clients included White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
He said many cases like McKinney's never reach a grand jury because they're settled quietly and privately, avoiding a public spectacle. "This ... begged for that," he said.
If it's good enough for Judy Miller, it's good enough for this thug.
Where is a Mike Nifong clone when you need them?
"That would be unusual for a run-of-the-mill case, but this isn't a run-of-the-mill case," said Frank Carter, former head of the public defender service in Washington whose clients included White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
He said many cases like McKinney's never reach a grand jury because they're settled quietly and privately, avoiding a public spectacle. "This ... begged for that," he said.
I'll bet if I punched a Capitol Hill Police Officer things wouldn't be settled "quietly and privately".
The CHPD is righteously pissed about this, and so am I. This b**** should have been treated like anyone else in this country. That would have been an instant felony arrest for you or I as the author correctly noted.
That McKinney is getting obviously different treatment speaks volumes about how politicians are treated versus ordinary citizens.
L
Roll the tape.
That security video needs to get discretely leaked to the media and the bologosphere, pronto.
That would be "blogosphere," not to be confused with the "Bolognasphere," which is an orb of processed meat.
U.S. Attorney Ken Wainstein declined to comment
this Gutless Punk is being "Blackmailed" or is a Liberal
shielding McKinney.
Either way He is a PUNK.
IMHO
It's no wonder the approval rating for Congress is even lower than the President's.
Please, can't we find more money to spend on this? Can't we create the funding, charter a whole new bureaucracy, develop some new investigative office, assemble some focus groups, secure work for some lobbyists, set up some polling, get coverage on Greta van Susteren and Chris Matthews, and most importantly, write some new laws permanently establishing all of the above? (except Greta & Chris, of course) Let's do it for the children. /s
Nothing is going to happen to her. I would suggest the cop get an attorney and sue, but in D.C.? Fuggettaboutit
I agree. Hopefully nobody is really taking this seriously and having a heart attack over it. This is one of those things that people should just get over. Not fair, but life is not always fair.
"In political terms..."
This is what is wrong. There should not be any "political terms..." when you hit a cop!
In Texas, if a Cop pulls you over and you speed off, you can be arrested and PROSECUTED for 1st Degree Felony Assault on a Police Officer! Why? Because you could have "run him over" or caused "grave bodily injury".
This Bag need to be "drug on down to Texas where she can meet some real Justice".
LOL, I was just trying to find the same photo of McKinney. I do know that her hair is not of this planet. :)
(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")
Hmm, let's see:
Jefferson, D-La.
Ranking Member of Ethics Committee, D-W.V.
McKinney, D-Ga.
That's 60% Dems
Hey, Pelosi! What was that about a, "Culture of Corruption" again??
This is indicative of the deep problems we have in DC. This case should be over and she should have been made an example of. These people are our servants not a ruling class or royalty.
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