Duo urges commendation for Capitol Police service
By Charles Hurt and Matthew Cella
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
April 4, 2006
Two House members will introduce tomorrow a resolution to commend the U.S.
Capitol Police department, which Rep. Cynthia A. McKinney accused last week
of racial profiling.
"The 1,700 officers of the Capitol Police force risk their lives every
day protecting constituents, staff and members of Congress," said Rep.
Patrick T. McHenry, North Carolina Republican. "The right thing to do is to
commend these men and women. They deserve a pat on the back, which is more
appropriate than what they've gotten lately."
The resolution, by Mr. McHenry and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, Florida
Republican, which could be voted on this week, comes after increasingly
harsh accusations by Mrs. McKinney, the Georgia Democrat who was stopped by
Capitol Police last week for bypassing a metal detector.
Also, the Capitol Police today requested an arrest warrant for Mrs.
McKinney over the incident. A representative for the U.S. Attorney's Office,
which must approve an arrest warrant, said officials were considering
whether to file charges.
No warrant had been issued as of this afternoon. A felony charge of
assaulting a police officer carries a maximum five-year sentence in the
District.
Sgt. Kimberly Schneider, a Capitol Police spokeswoman, said only that
the department "has referred its investigative findings to the United States
attorney."
Members of Congress are not required to go through the metal detectors
at Capitol entrances, but officers did not recognize her because she had
recently changed her hairdo and wasn't wearing the member's pin that
identifies her.
Once stopped, Mrs. McKinney swatted the officer with her cellular phone.
"This whole incident was instigated by the inappropriate touching and
stopping of me, a female black congresswoman," Mrs. McKinney said during a
press conference last week at Howard University. "I deeply regret that this
incident occurred, and I am certain that after a full review of the facts, I
will be exonerated."
She was "just a victim of being in Congress while black," said her
attorney, James W. Myart Jr. "Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, like thousands
of average Americans across this country, is, too, a victim of the excessive
use of force by law-enforcement officials because of how she looks and the
color of her skin."
Mrs. McKinney continued her defense with a press conference earlier
today in Atlanta.
"Racial profiling is a well thought out and planned attack on black
political leaders," Georgia state Rep. Roberta Abdul-Salaam. "It's going
from the gold dome down to the White House. It's happening, and it's wrong."
Mr. Diaz-Balart said the police should be commended rather than
condemned.
"Every day, they exhibit honor, courtesy and professionalism," he said.
"This resolution highlights and thanks the hardworking Capitol Police for
the work they do in maintaining security around the Capitol for all members
of Congress, staff and visitors."
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