House to Vote on Praising McKinney Police
House Republicans to Vote on Praising Capitol Police Action in McKinney Scuffle
Rep. Cynthia McKinney, D-Ga., gives a thumb-up during a news conference in Atlanta, Monday, April 3, 2006. Black clergy and lawmakers came the defense of McKinney during the news conference. Capitol Hill police have referred a scuffle between one of their officers and McKinney to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington. (AP Photo/W.A. Harewood)
WASHINGTON Apr 4, 2006 (AP) House Republicans, reacting to the confrontation last week between Rep. Cynthia McKinney and a Capitol Police officer she is accused of hitting, pressed for a resolution Tuesday to commend the police force for its professionalism.
Democratic leaders did not defend McKinney or her charge of racial profiling.
"I don't think any of it justifies hitting a police officer," said House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California. "If it did happen I don't think it was justified."
Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the No. 2 Democrat in the House, said all lawmakers, staffers and visitors in the building have a responsibility to obey Capitol Police. "I think we all should cooperate fully," he said.
Rep. Mel Watt, D-N.C., chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, had no comment, a spokesman said.
As a federal prosecutor considered whether to press assault or other charges against McKinney, Republicans were introducing their resolution.
"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.
McKinney is alleged to have hit a uniformed police officer who did not recognize her and asked her to stop on her way into a House office building.
McKinney says she took action in self defense after the officer inappropriately touched her. A spokesman for the congresswoman did not respond Tuesday to a request for comment.
The six-term Georgia Democrat says the issue is not about whether to obey a police officer's order, whether she hit him or the fact that she was not wearing the lapel pin that identifies members of Congress.
She and her lawyers have said that a series of confrontations between McKinney and U.S. Capitol and White House law enforcement officers who don't recognize her points to a pattern.
"The issue is racial profiling," McKinney, who is black, told CNN Monday.