Congresswoman McKinney Scuffles With Officer

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Rep. Cynthia McKinney

03/29/2006 - WASHINGTON -- Rep. Cynthia McKinney and a police officer scuffled Wednesday after the Georgia Democrat entered a House office building unrecognized and refused to stop when asked, according to U.S. Capitol Police.

McKinney, a sixth-term congresswoman who represents suburban Atlanta, struck the officer according to one account, a police official said, adding there were conflicting accounts. The officer, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the incident, spoke only on condition of anonymity.

No charges were filed, police said.

McKinney issued a statement Wednesday night saying she regretted the confrontation.

"I know that Capitol Hill Police are securing our safety, and I appreciate the work that they do. I have demonstrated my support for them in the past and I continue to support them now," she said.

Capitol Police spokeswoman Sgt. Kimberly Schneider said only that senior officials have been made aware of the incident and are investigating.

Members of Congress do not have to walk through metal detectors as they enter buildings on the Capitol complex. They wear lapel pins identifying them as members.

McKinney routinely doesn't wear her pin and is recognized by many officers, the police official said, adding that she wasn't wearing it when she entered a House office building early Wednesday.

By one police account, she walked around a metal detector and an officer asked her several times to stop. When she did not, the officer tried to stop her, and she then struck the officer, according to that account.

In her statement, McKinney said most members of Congress expect Capitol police to recognize them. "I was urgently trying to get to an important meeting on time to fulfill my obligations to my constituents. Unfortunately, the police officer did not recognize me as a member of Congress and a confrontation ensued," she said. "I did not have on my congressional pin but showed the police officer my congressional ID."

McKinney was defeated in 2002 after she implied on a talk radio program that the Bush administration might have had advance notice of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. She won back the seat two years later with 64 percent of the vote.

Republicans circulated an e-mail noting that McKinney's party the same day announced an election-year "affirmation" of their commitment to shoring up the nation's security.

"On a day when the Democrats unveil their national security agenda, it's probably not a good idea to allegedly strike a police officer," said Ron Bonjean, spokesman for House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.

Hank Johnson, a DeKalb County, Ga., commissioner who is running against McKinney in this year's Democratic primary, said voters "must hold Ms. McKinney accountable for her continued pattern of irresponsible and reckless behavior.

"For years, it's the people of the Fourth District who have suffered and been shortchanged because of our representative's behavior in Congress," Johnson said. "It's why she is ineffective in Congress."

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04/05/2006 - Sixty-Nine year old police officer Patrick (Pops) McKinney is facing charges of hitting himself with a Congresswoman's hand. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, no relation, wants Officer McKinney fired.

It seems McKinney, currently the longest serving officer on the Capitol Hill police force, may lose his pension after 48 years of service. McKinney, a Navy Cross winner father of 8, a great-grandfather of 32, and recent great grandfather of 1, is accused of using the Congresswoman's hand to fend himself off from the Congresswoman.

In addition, he may be charged with Congresswoman McKinney calling him a racist.

"I was just following procedure when I tapped, what turned out to be, Congresswoman McKinney on the shoulder and asked for her identification. I apologize for wincing when she stuck me in the chest. I also apologize for her calling me a racist. I was just trying to do my job by preventing anyone without a congressional pin from bypassing our security. Obviously I was wrong and I'm sorry", said a broken Officer McKinney.

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi on Thursday labeled it "a mistake, an unfortunate lack of recognition of a member of Congress." She added that, "Had it been me I would have kicked the little old SOB in the nuts and claimed sexual harassment. The sooner assholes like Office McKinney figure out members of congress are above the law the better it will be".

Office McKinney said it's getting more and more difficult to identify members of Congress. "The majority of them are self-centered jerks who act like a prince or princess, or both'. I regret the incident happened in the way that it did. If I had it all to do over again I should have just drawn my service revolver and shot the bitch", added Officer McKinney.

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Man oh man, where to begin?

I think Congresswoman McKinney using the "race card" is totally wrong and she knows it!

I was just trying to do my job by preventing anyone without a congressional pin from bypassing our security. Obviously I was wrong and I'm sorry", said a broken Officer McKinney.

Wow some security we have! All you need is a little pin and that gets you in and no questions asked? This is our National security hard at work? What a joke!

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi on Thursday labeled it "a mistake, an unfortunate lack of recognition of a member of Congress." She added that, "Had it been me I would have kicked the little old SOB in the nuts and claimed sexual harassment. The sooner assholes like Officer McKinney figure out members of congress are above the law the better it will be".

Well Nancy Pelosi, you may be the real misinformed bitch here! No one and I mean NO ONE is above the law and this includes congressmen and assholes like you! Nancy Pelosi even though you don't have balls, but you think you do, I'd sure the hell kick you between the legs you smelly ass skank!

I just can't believe that Nancy Pelosi would say something like that, that just upsets me. That's something I'd expect coming from a Republican.

Officer McKinney said it's getting more and more difficult to identify members of Congress. "The majority of them are self-centered jerks who act like a prince or princess, or both'. I regret the incident happened in the way that it did. If I had it all to do over again I should have just drawn my service revolver and shot the bitch", added Officer McKinney.

Ok to be fair I have to admit I like Congresswoman McKinney, because she stood up to the Nation and accused President Bush of having prior knowledge of 911. She was one of the few in Congress to have the balls to do that.

Yet I have to agree with Officer McKinney, he should have drawn his service revolver and shot the bitch! While he was at it, he should have gone and found Nancy Pelosi.

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Democratic Leader Nancy "The Tyrant" Pelosi

Quote

"The sooner assholes like Officer McKinney figure out members of congress are above the law the better it will be". --- Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi

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04/06/2006 - As a federal grand jury weighed whether to bring criminal charges against her, a Democratic congresswoman today apologized for a confrontation with a Capitol police officer.

Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.) is accused of hitting the officer after he tried to stop her from entering a House office building without going through an electronic security machine.

"There should not have been any physical contact in this incident," said McKinney on the House floor. "I am sorry that this misunderstanding happened at all. I regret its escalation and I apologize."

Today's apology was a far cry from McKinney's earlier angry allegations that she was not treated with the usual courtesy accorded legislators because she is a black woman.

It was unknown if the apology would end the grand jury probe.

The dispute began on March 29 when McKinney tried to enter a House building. Members of Congress are allowed to enter without having to go through a metal detector, which is part of the stepped up security since the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

McKinney was not wearing the special pin that is given to legislators and the officer on duty apparently didn't recognize her as a Congresswoman. The officer told her to stop and a scuffle allegedly ensued.

Capitol Police Chief Terrance Gainer said McKinney turned the officer's failure to recognize her into a criminal affair when she struck him.

"He reached out and grabbed her and she turned around and hit him," Gainer said on CNN. "Even the high and the haughty should be able to stop and say, 'I'm a congressman' and then everybody moves on."

The incident escalated when McKinney held a series of news conferences accusing officers of being racist and failing to treat her the way they treat other lawmakers. McKinney recently changed her hair style from cornrows to a curly Afro. "This has become much ado about hairdo," McKinney said Wednesday on CBS' "The Early Show."

The Capitol police turned the incident over to the U.S. attorney's office. A federal grand jury has already issued at least two subpoenas in the case.

Republicans, the majority party in the House, presented a resolution commending Capitol police for professionalism toward members of Congress and visitors, even though they "endure physical and verbal assaults in some extreme cases."

"I don't think it's fair to attack the Capitol Police and I think it's time that we show our support for them," said Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), a sponsor of the measure.

Chief Gainor has defended his force.

"I've seen our officers stop white members and black members, Latinos, male and females," he told CNN. "It's not an issue about what your race or gender is. It's an issue about making sure people who come into our building are recognized if they're not going through the magnetometer, and this officer at that moment didn't recognize her. "

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"There should not have been any physical contact in this incident," said McKinney on the House floor. "I am sorry that this misunderstanding happened at all. I regret its escalation and I apologize."



It's just common since I would think, you don't touch an officer. Unless you expect that touch to kill that officer and you have other arrangements to get the hell out of dodge and live in another country or you expect your life to end as well right then and there.