McKinney makes statement on altercation

*Tuesday AM Updates – bumped and updated for latest McKinney news – scroll down for updates (original post time: 10:57 am ET 4-3-06*

Watch it here.

What a joke.

Background on this story can be found here and here. I’ll post a transcript of the press conference as soon as it’s available.

Update I: And just who did she appear with? Among others, actor Danny Glover, supporter of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, and singer/actor Harry Belafonte, who not only supports Castro as well but also Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez. Belafonte, you may recall, likened former Sec. of State Colin Powell and then-NSA advisor now-Sec. of State Condi Rice to “house slaves” back in 2002. Nice move, Rep. McKinney.

The incident is being blamed on “race” according to one of her lawyers.

Update II: Read more via Michelle Malkin, who has screen caps and also as a mini-recap as to what was said – and now video as well.

Update III: Welcome, Hugh Hewitt readers (thanks for the link, Mary Katherine) as well as Wizbang readers! To all readers: Click on over to Wizbang to take part in their Caption Contest …. not sure you’ll like the prize, but coming up with captions for the photo in question should be fun ;)

Update IV: More updates from Malkin here, including a link to this post which says it all.

AP is reporting this afternoon:

Capitol Hill police have referred a scuffle between one of their officers and U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C., a spokesman for the office said Monday.

“We are working with Capitol Hill police to fully understand and appreciate the incident,” principal assistant U.S. Attorney Channing Phillips told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. “Pending review, it is inappropriate for us to comment any further at this time.”

Phillips would not say whether a warrant was issued for McKinney’s arrest.

McKinney spokesman Coz Carson on Monday also acknowledged the investigation.

“We’re aware that the wheels are turning in Washington,” Carson said. “We have no control over what they decide to do. We will make the appropriate statement and take the appropriate action once we know where they’re going.”

Stay tuned …

Update V 8:01 PM ET: On CNN, McKinney tries to explain that she always looks the same, even though images shown on screen paint quite a different picture.

Update VI 8:06 PM ET: Can singer Isaac Hayes be classified as an office supply? Find out the answer here (scroll down for an update on this link):

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…”

(Hat tip: ST reader Karl at Leaning Straight Up)

I wonder if House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi would tell us to “not make a big deal” out of this, either?

Tue AM Update I: Welcome, Polipundit readers! Thanks to Lorie for the link :)

Tue AM Update II: The link to the above story about McKinney’s misuse of taxpayers money on singer Isaac Hayes has since been changed to note that the US Capitol Police are seeking a warrant for McKinney’s arrest. This link will take you to the story about the misuse of taxpayer dollars.

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