McKinney Case to the Grand Jury

The opening of tonight's Special Report with Brit Hume was classic. Brit opened the show with this:

"For reasons known only to her and her lawyers, Georgia Democratic Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney today continued to keep her run-in with the Capitol policeman in the news by talking about it in the media."

They then showed McKinney appearing on Fox and Friends and refusing to answer the simple question about whether she had struck the officer. Following that was an interview with her lawyer who insisted that none of this would have happened if she hadn't been black.

Brit - I don't understand it either. She apparently has decided that the best defense is a stupid offense. Late today it was announced that the case is going to the grand jury:

(CNN) — No more he-grabbed-she-slapped — whether U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney should be charged over a confrontation with Capitol Police last week will be decided by a grand jury, perhaps as soon as next week, said federal law enforcement sources familiar with the case.

Federal prosecutors have decided to present the case, and the grand jury will begin hearing testimony Thursday, the two sources said.

The Justice Department and the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, which is handling the case, refused to comment.

A staffer for a Democratic Congressman from California who was a witness to the incident has been subpoenaed to testify. I assume he or she will tell is as he or she saw it. I can't see any coordinated Dem plans to protect McKinney after the embarrassment she's caused.

Meanwhile, most Democrats have run for the tall grass on this one and most refuse to express an opinion either way. This is quickly taking all the air out of the Dems joy over the retirement of Tom DeLay and any gains they may have made from that. That has to be frustrating for San Fran Nan and her associates who are now fending off McKinney questions rather than pressing the attack against the GOP.

If charges are brought by the grand jury, it's going to start getting really entertaining.

(h/t Sheep's Crib for the photo)