Lawmaker accuses Capitol guard of racism

WASHINGTON, April 1 (UPI) -- Rep. Cynthia McKinney, D-Ga., has accused a Capitol Hill guard of racism for stopping her as he did at a security checkpoint earlier this week.

Her supporters claim the guard used excessive force. Capitol police are considering assault charges against the lawmaker whose lawyers cite self-defense.

"The whole incident was instigated by the inappropriate touching and stopping of me -- a female, black congresswoman," McKinney said at a Washington news conference, dropping the apologetic tone she struck earlier in the week.

This was her first public statement about the incident, in which the officer, not recognizing McKinney as a member of Congress, tried to stop her from walking around a security checkpoint, which members are routinely allowed to do.

Several Capitol police officials have said the officer involved asked McKinney three times to stop. When she did not, they said, he put his hand on her and she hit him, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported.

Police said the matter was under investigation.