Cynthia McKinney Non-Apologizes

Cynthia McKinney punched a Capitol Hill Police Officer and her office issued a response.

Earlier today I had an unfortunate confrontation with a Capitol Hill Police Officer.

Yeah, you assaulted him.

It is traditional protocol that Capitol Hill Police Officers secure 535 Members of Congress, including 100 Senators. It is the expectation of most Members of Congress that Capitol Hill Police officers know who they are.

Of course, Members of Congress are expected to wear their Congressional pins or show their Congressional ID when asked.

I was urgently trying to get to an important meeting on time to fulfill my obligations to my constituents.

Your first and most important obligation to your constituents is to obey laws. You know, the same laws your constituents are required to obey as well. I don't believe assaulting an officer of the law sets a very good example.

Unfortunately, the Police Officer did not recognize me as a Member of Congress and a confrontation ensued.

A confrontation which would not have occurred if you had been wearing your Congressional Pin, or if you had shown your Congressional ID when you were asked, the first time, or any other time, instead of waiting until the police officer had to stop you.

I did not have on my Congressional pin but showed the Police Officer my Congressional ID.

I know that Capitol Hill Police are securing our safety, that of thousands of others, and I appreciate the work that they do.

If you truly appreciated the work they do, you would respect the uniform they wear when they perform the work they do, you know, when they ask people without proper identification to identify themselves before entering the Capitol building, to protect the safety of those inside, and the thousands of others who might venture to Washington one day.

I deeply regret that the incident occurred.

I doubt it. I think you deeply regret that the incident was caught on tape. But, that's just my opinion.

I have demonstrated my support for them in the past and I continue to support them now.

Your actions, and your non-apology do not demonstrate your support for them. You have not demonstrated your respect for them either, if you did, you would have apologized outright.

As a resident of the state of Georgia, I am appalled at your actions, and I am thankful I do not live in your district.