Lawyer Says McKinney a Victim in Scuffle [View All]

[brooklynite]

WASHINGTON - A lawyer for Rep. Cynthia McKinney, the Georgia congresswoman who had an altercation with a Capitol Police officer, says she was "just a victim of being in Congress while black."

McKinney awaited word Friday on whether she would be charged for apparently striking the officer after she entered a House office building this week unrecognized and did not stop when asked.

Two law enforcement officials said it was unlikely a warrant would be issued this week. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Her lawyer, James W. Myart Jr., said, "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."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060331/ap_on_go_co/mckinney_scuffle_9
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Personally, I'm getting the impression this is akin to the "Don't you know who I am" behavior you sometimes get from celebrities. It may well be a requirement or desireable outcome that Guards can recognize legislators on site, but if they don't, and the legislator doesn't have appropriate ID and bypasses a security checkpoint, I'm not going to fault the guard for stopping them.