Cynthia McKinney Accused Of Hitting Officer

McKinney Admits Misusing Taxpayer Money

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/8442213/detail.html

(Gold9472: She admitted to it, and is reimbursing them. Unlike people like Tom DeLay, Scooter Libby, etc...)

POSTED: 3:40 pm EDT April 3, 2006

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Cynthia McKinney admits that she broke government rules by spending money to fly a celebrity to Atlanta.

Channel 2 Action News has uncovered documents showing McKinney, D-Ga., spent about $1,000 of taxpayer's money to fly singer Isaac Hayes to Georgia to help dedicate a new office in Atlanta.

The money came from a fund members of Congress are supposed to use for office supplies.

Using the money to pay for Hayes' airline ticket and hotel expenses is a violation of strict congressional rules. Those rules state that taxpayer money can only be used for "travel by Members, Members' employees and vendors. A vendor is an employee of a private company that provides maintenance and support for equipment and software..."

Watchdog groups call taxpayer-funded celebrity travel a blatant waste of taxpayer money.

McKinney staffers say they will reimburse the congressional fund for the cost of Hayes' flight and hotel room.
 
jetsetlemming said:
How could you call it "slander" when there's a tape of it? It's not exactly "he-said-she-said". Of course, the right's gonna rag on it, but since when can anyone do anything without their opposition jumping on it?
Click to expand...

Where's the tape?
 
Capitol Police To Be Commended

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/georgia/news-article_wxia.aspx?storyid=78193

4/4/2006

According to published reports, two Republican members of Congress are set to introduce a resolution commending the U.S. Capitol Police department, which has been accused of racial profiling by Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-4th Ga.).

The resolution, authored by Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina and Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida, could be voted on this week, and is on the heels of McKinney’s altercation with a Capitol police officer last week.

McKinney was stopped after going around a metal detector at a security checkpoint. Members of Congress wear a lapel pin that permits them to bypass security. McKinney was not wearing her lapel pin.

When the Capitol police officer grabbed McKinney’s arm, she turned around and struck the officer.

A federal prosecutor is now considering a request by the Capitol police for an arrest warrant for McKinney. That warrant could be issued as soon as Tuesday.
 
Cynthia McKinney Regrets: But Won’t Apologize

http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_27264627.shtml

By Mike Bates
Apr 4, 2006

Last week Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney found a new way to multitask with her cellphone. It’s alleged the Georgia Democrat poked a U.S. Capitol Police officer with her phone when he thoughtlessly challenged her for bypassing a House office metal detector.

Ms McKinney made the usual excuses. The incident happened because she’s black. Because she’s female. Because she’s “progressive.” If those oldies but goodies don’t work, she may turn to a more original defense: PTHD, post traumatic hairstyle disorder.

Atlanta’s WSB TV’s Web site posted a statement made by the congresswoman and then withdrawn. In it she says:

“The US Capitol Police mission statement makes no distinction about selective application of its mission depending upon whether a Member of Congress is black, woman, or has a new hairstyle. But, honestly, this incident is not about wearing a Congressional pin or changing my hairstyle. It is true that I have changed my hairstyle. . . Do I have to contact the police every time I change my hairstyle?

“I have agreed to try to remember to wear my pin and to notify Capitol Hill police every time I change my hairstyle. . . It is, however, a shame that while I conduct the country’s business, I have to stop and call the police to tell them that I’ve changed my hairstyle so that I’m not harassed at work.”

Cynthia’s fixation on her new do aside, the incident would not have occurred if she’d been wearing the label pin all House members are issued. The emblem allows them to avoid normal security procedures.

She asserts she is now doing her gosh darn best to remember to wear the pin. That’s disingenuous. In her first term in Congress, in 1993, she refused to wear it. So the matter is far from a novelty for her.

The congresswoman called in the media last Friday evening. She may have characterized it a press conference, but it was really a Support Cynthia McKinney rally. Representatives of the National Organization for Women and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People were there to demonstrate their solidarity.

So were entertainers Harry Belafonte and Danny Glover, who earlier this year were in Venezuela cheering socialist leader and America hater Hugo Chavez. The celebrities have become permanent house Negroes, to use a term employed by Belafonte, in service on the Far Left plantation.

Harry’s description of President Bush as “the greatest terrorist in the world” is indicative of where he is on the political spectrum. So his support of McKinney, who’s espoused wacky conspiracy theories (she’s asked if the president knew about 9/11 in advance and did nothing to stop it), is hardly unexpected. Nor is the has-been’s efforts to get his name in the news a few more times before he heads for that people’s republic in the sky. His last big hit was recorded the same year Ms McKinney was born, 1955.

Rally participants claimed the police officer was at fault for not instantly recognizing McKinney. They described her as having a face recognized around the world. That may be true in Havana or Caracas or other anti-American hotspots, but not here.

Most of us wouldn’t know our own congressman if we tripped over him. Ms McKinney’s image may be well-known among fringe elements, but that’s about it. Expecting officers to know all 435 House members by sight isn’t reasonable, less so if any of them are sporting new and improved dos.

As this is written, no decision has been made by the U.S. Attorney’s office on issuing a warrant for the congresswoman’s arrest. If it were you or I who scuffled with a police officer, how long do you think the bureaucracy would dawdle while deciding whether or not to press charges?

It was eight years ago that two Capitol Police were killed while on duty. Subsequently, security was ratcheted up. The events of 9/11 make Washington safety measures even more important.

Ms. McKinney has used the perfunctory I deeply regret the incident happened line. She hasn’t apologized for hitting the officer, who she contends instigated the incident by inappropriately stopping and touching her.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi terms the confrontation a mistake caused by “an unfortunate lack of recognition of a member of Congress.” I see. It was the police officer who was at fault.

If arrogant, self-absorbed members of Congress don’t wish to use the identification provided them to avoid security measures, eliminate the procedure. Let the prima donnas be treated like all those commoners who are paying the freight. Maybe then post traumatic hairstyle disorder sufferers like the Honorable McKinney won’t feel so victimized.
 
Gold9472 said:
According to published reports, two Republican members of Congress are set to introduce a resolution commending the U.S. Capitol Police department, which has been accused of racial profiling by Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-4th Ga.).
Click to expand...

Here come the Republicans.... A resolution COMMENDING the police for doing their job.... suck-ups.......

Once again, where's the videotape?
 
Capitol Police Chief Denies Racism Charge

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060405/ap_on_go_co/mckinney_scuffle

By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer
47 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - U. S. Capitol Police Chief Terrance Gainer said Wednesday that Rep. Cynthia McKinney turned an officer's failure to recognize her into a criminal matter when she failed to stop at his request, and then 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."

For her part, McKinney wasn't backing down from the argument. She charged anew that racism is behind what she said is a pattern of difficulty in clearing Hill security checkpoints.

Gainer said that racism, however, was not a factor.

"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."

"It would have been real easy, as most members of Congress do, to say here's who I am or do you know who I am?" Gainer added.

Police also have said that McKinney was failing to wear a pin that lawmakers are asked to display when entering Capitol facilities.

But she said Wednesday: "Face recognition is the issue .... The pin doesn't have my name on it and it doesn't have my picture on it, and so security should not be based on a pin ... People are focused on my hairdo."

The Georgia Democrat, appearing on CBS's "The Early Show" Wednesday, recently dropped her trademark cornrows in favor of a curly brown afro.

"Something that perhaps the average American just doesn't understand is that there is a heightened sense of a lack of appropriateness being there for members who are elected who happen to be of color," McKinney said, "and until this issue is addressed by the American public in a very substantive way, it won't be the last time."

Last Wednesday's incident in a House office building has caused a commotion on Capitol Hill, where security in the era of terrorist threat is tighter than ever and where authorities had to order an evacuation just Monday because of a power outage.

McKinney has garnered little support among fellow Democrats in her feud with the Capitol police. No one in her party chose to join her at a news conference last Friday to discuss the situation, and the event was canceled.

As a federal prosecutor considers whether to press assault or other charges against her, Republicans 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. Ignoring a police officer's order to stop, or hitting one, "is never OK," McHenry said.

Some GOP members have said the McKinney incident serves to underscore Democratic insensitivity to security concerns.
 
It's amazing how the Press can completely ignore the 3 commission's chaired by McKinney regarding 9/11.
 
DeLay Says He'll File Ethics Complaint Against McKinney

http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?print=yes&id=13784

by Robert B. Bluey
Posted Apr 04, 2006

Soon-to-retire Rep. Tom DeLay (R.-Tex.) said today he would file an ethics complaint against Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D.-Ga.) for striking a Capitol Police officer should no other House member do so first.

DeLay’s comments came during a wide-ranging interview at his Capitol Hill office with reporters, including HUMAN EVENTS Editor Terry Jeffrey.

“If nobody in this House files an ethics charge, I am,” DeLay said in response to a question about McKinney. “Her behavior is outrageous. And it’s not the only time.”

DeLay was asked if he supported the Capitol Police’s actions following the incident with McKinney, which took place last week when she bypassed a metal detector and a police officer stopped her.

“You bet,” he said.

“It’s outrageous behavior,” he said about McKinney. “Had it been Tom DeLay, the Ethics Committee would have met the next day.”

The subject of McKinney came up after DeLay recounted a fond memory he had of a Capitol Police officer killed in the line of duty. When asked about his best and worst days as a lawmaker, he said his best day was the GOP’s sweep in 1994.

The worst day, he recalled, was July 24, 1998, when Capitol Police Detective John Gibson was shot to death by Russell Weston Jr. in DeLay’s office. Fellow officer Jacob “J.J.” Chestnut was also killed that day protecting the congressman’s staff from the gunman.

The episode prompted DeLay to erect a tribute to Gibson on his office wall. He told reporters that a plaque he keeps in his office with the words “This Could Be the Day” serves as a reminder of Gibson, who had discussed its meaning with DeLay only two days before he was killed.
 
Gold9472 said:
“It’s outrageous behavior,” he said about McKinney. “Had it been Tom DeLay, the Ethics Committee would have met the next day.”
Click to expand...
HE SPEAKS IN THIRD PERSON! OMG! O.o;;;;;;;;;;;;
 
Grand Jury to Hear McKinney Run-In Case

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/06/AR2006040600289.html

By MARK SHERMAN
The Associated Press
Thursday, April 6, 2006; 6:03 AM

WASHINGTON -- The announced resignation of a powerful Republican congressman usually would be enough scandal for one week on Capitol Hill. Instead, a Democratic congresswoman has grabbed the spotlight since her run-in with a Capitol Police officer.

Rep. Cynthia McKinney, D-Ga., is accused of striking an officer after he tried to stop her from entering a House office building without going through a security checkpoint.

A federal grand jury will soon begin hearing evidence about the incident, a lawyer familiar with the case said Wednesday.

The lawyer, who declined to be identified because of grand jury secrecy, confirmed that federal prosecutors had agreed to get involved in the case.

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who on Tuesday abandoned his re-election bid under a cloud of ethics charges, weighed in on Wednesday, saying McKinney, who is black, "is a racist." The officer she allegedly struck is white.

"She has a long history of racism," DeLay, R-Texas, said on Fox News Channel. "Everything is racism with her. This is incredible arrogance that sometimes hits these members of Congress, but especially Cynthia McKinney."

U.S. Capitol Police Chief Terrance Gainer said McKinney turned the officer's failure to recognize her into a criminal matter when she failed to stop at his request, and then 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."

McKinney wasn't backing down. She charged anew that racism is behind what she said is a pattern of difficulty in clearing Hill security checkpoints.

"This has become much ado about hairdo," she said Wednesday on CBS' "The Early Show." McKinney recently dropped her trademark cornrows in favor of a curly brown afro.

Last Wednesday's incident in a House office building has caused a commotion on Capitol Hill, where security in the era of terrorist threat is tighter than ever and where authorities had to order an evacuation just Monday because of a power outage. Capitol Police have turned the McKinney case over to U.S. Attorney Kenneth Wainstein.

Republicans, meanwhile, 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.

Some GOP members have said the McKinney incident serves to underscore Democratic insensitivity to security concerns.

"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.

"It would have been real easy, as most members of Congress do, to say here's who I am or do you know who I am?" Gainer added.

Police also have said that McKinney was failing to wear a pin that lawmakers are asked to display when entering Capitol facilities.
 
Grand Jury to Hear McKinney Run-In Case

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060406/ap_on_go_co/mckinney_scuffle_23

By LAURIE KELLMAN and MARK SHERMAN, Associated Press Writer
Wed Apr 5, 9:09 PM ET

WASHINGTON - A federal grand jury will soon begin hearing evidence about Rep. Cynthia McKinney's run-in with a Capitol Police officer, a lawyer familiar with the case said late Wednesday.

The lawyer, who declined to be identified because of grand jury secrecy, confirmed that federal prosecutors had agreed to get involved in the case in which a black lawmaker is accused of striking a white officer after he tried to stop her from entering a House office building without going through a security checkpoint.

U.S. Capitol Police Chief Terrance Gainer said McKinney turned the officer's failure to recognize her into a criminal matter when she failed to stop at his request, and then 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."

"This is not about personality," added House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill. "It's not about racial profiling. It's about making this place safer."

For her part, McKinney wasn't backing down from the argument. She charged anew that racism is behind what she said is a pattern of difficulty in clearing Hill security checkpoints.

"This has become much ado about hairdo," she said Wednesday on CBS' "The Early Show." McKinney, a Georgia Democrat, recently dropped her trademark cornrows in favor of a curly brown afro.

The police aren't the ones who are racist, one Republican said.

"Cynthia McKinney is a racist," Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, said on Fox News Channel's "Fox and Friends," a day after abandoning his reelection bid under a cloud of ethics charges. "She has a long history of racism. Everything is racism with her. This is incredible arrogance that sometimes hits these members of Congress, but especially Cynthia McKinney."

Last Wednesday's incident in a House office building has caused a commotion on Capitol Hill, where security in the era of terrorist threat is tighter than ever and where authorities had to order an evacuation just Monday because of a power outage.

Capitol Police have turned the case over to U.S. Attorney Kenneth Wainstein, who must decide whether to clear the way for any charges against McKinney. An official in his office said no announcement was expected Wednesday.

McKinney has garnered little support among fellow Democrats in her feud with the Capitol police. No one in her party chose to join her at a news conference last Friday to discuss the situation.

Republicans, meanwhile, 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. Ignoring a police officer's order to stop, or hitting one, "is never OK," McHenry said.

Some GOP members have said the McKinney incident serves to underscore Democratic insensitivity to security concerns.

Gainer said that racism, however, was not a factor.

"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."

"It would have been real easy, as most members of Congress do, to say here's who I am or do you know who I am?" Gainer added.

Police also have said that McKinney was failing to wear a pin that lawmakers are asked to display when entering Capitol facilities.

But she said Wednesday: "Face recognition is the issue .... The pin doesn't have my name on it and it doesn't have my picture on it, and so security should not be based on a pin ... People are focused on my hairdo."

"Something that perhaps the average American just doesn't understand is that there is a heightened sense of a lack of appropriateness being there for members who are elected who happen to be of color," McKinney said, "and until this issue is addressed by the American public in a very substantive way, it won't be the last time."
 
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