On Thursday afternoon, Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) got into a loud, angry dispute with a U.S. Capitol Police officer at the security checkpoint inside the entrance of the West Side of the Capitol. On Friday, Shays, a veteran lawmaker, offered a public apology for the incident and said that he wants to meet with the officer personally to reiterate how sorry he is.
Shays reportedly grabbed the officer during the dispute over whether the officer should allow a group of tourists to enter the building, said several sources. Tourists are not allowed to use the West Front entrance, but Shays was trying to bring the group through that entrance anyway. The officer refused to allow them in, and Shays then "yelled and screamed" at the officer, including using profanity, the sources said.
Update - here's a Capitol Police report on the incident:
"On Thursday, July 19, 2007, a United States Capitol Police officer had an interaction with Congressman Christopher Shays on the West Front of the Capitol wherein the Congressman acted in a manner that was inappropriate.
"The officer took offense to the manner in which the Congressman spoke to him and said that the Congressman also reached out and touched his nametag.
The officer chose to handle the matter by filing a courtesy complaint against the Member. After personally meeting with the officer, Chief of Police Phillip D. Morse, Sr. and Assistant Chief of Police Dan Nichols discussed the matter with Congressman Shays who acknowledged he acted inappropriately in the heat of the moment and took full responsibility for his actions. The Congressman stated his full support and admiration for the officers of the U.S. Capitol Police and offered his apologies.
"Chief Morse fully supports the officer involved in this matter and commends the officer for properly following policy and procedure during this encounter."
The altercation brings to mind a 2006 incident with former Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.), who struck a Capitol Police officer after he asked her for identification. A complaint was filed by the officer, but no formal charges were ever brought. McKinney failed to win re-election last November.
Here's Shays' statement on the incident:
"Yesterday while trying to locate a family of constituents caught on the West Front of the Capitol during a rain storm, I interacted with a Capitol Police officer in a way I know was not appropriate.
"Although my focus was in trying to locate my constituents and get them to a dry location, I know I clearly could have handled the situation with the officer in a more professional and respectful way, and I regret I did not do so.
"During my 19 years in Congress I have grown to respect and appreciate the difficult mission performed by the men and women of the United States Capitol Police every day. They ensure members of Congress can conduct the people’s business in the safest environment possible while also attending to the needs of the millions of people who visit our nation’s Capitol every year. They deserve all of our respect and admiration and I apologize that even for a few moments my behavior did not reflect my appreciation of that fact.
"When I return to Washington on Monday, I hope to have the opportunity to meet with the officer and apologize to him in person. I take full responsibility for this incident and want to ensure it does not reflect negatively on the officer in any way."
Touch a cop, get a beat down...and then go to jai.
Posted by: kwflatbed
Rep. Christopher Shays Apologizes for Capitol Hill Confrontation
WASHINGTON — Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., on Friday apologized for a confrontation he had a day earlier with a U.S. Capitol Police officer.
"I clearly could have handled the situation with the officer in a more professional and respectful way, and I regret I did not do so. ... When I return to Washington on Monday, I hope to have the opportunity to meet with the officer and apologize to him in person," Shays said.
"I take full responsibility for this incident and want to ensure it does not reflect negatively on the officer in any way," he added.
Sources told FOX News that Shays was going to meet a constituent group Thursday outside the Capitol building for a photo. Through apparent miscommunication, Shays and the group were on opposite sides of the Capitol building when it began to rain.
Shays called the Capitol police, attempting to bring the group inside, but Capitol police wouldn't take the call. Shays found the group and the officer on the opposite side of the Capitol and a shouting match ensued, sources said.
A source told TheHill.com that Shays began to "scream obscenities" at the police officer and grabbed the officer's nametag to verify his identification before storming off.
Sources tell FOX News that it is unclear whether police would file charges in the incident or whether the police union would file a complaint, however, the apology was likely to help smooth over raw feelings.
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