WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Capitol Police today submitted their case against Representative Cynthia McKinney to the U.S. Attorney's office, which will consider whether the Georgia congresswoman will face charges for tangling with a law enforcement officer last week.

Principal assistant U.S. Attorney Channing Phillips declined to say whether the referral included a recommended charge against the six-term Georgia Democrat or when a warrant for her arrest might be issued.

McKinney spokesman Coz Carson acknowledged the investigation, saying a statement will follow once they know where the investigation is going.

For her part, McKinney said she expects to represent her suburban Atlanta district for many years.

Black clergy and lawmakers came the defense of the firebrand congresswoman today. McKinney smiled as her supporters heaped praise on her leadership and her new look, her trademark cornrows replaced earlier this year by a curly brown natural style.

The 51-year-old McKinney scuffled with a police officer on March 29 when she entered a House office building without her identifying lapel pin and did not stop when asked. Several police sources said the officer, who was not identified, asked her three times to stop. When she kept going, he placed a hand somewhere on her and she hit him, according to the officials.

McKinney refused to comment today about her confrontation with the police officer.

Instead her supporters used a news conference this morning at the Community Church of Christ on Cascade Road to attack security procedures at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

They blamed the incident between McKinney and an unidentified police officer on racism. Speakers said the officer failed to recognize McKinney as a member of congress and grabbed her because she is black.

They also ridiculed the use of pins to identify members of congress. McKinney admits she was not wearing her pin when she was stopped by the officer when she bypassed a security checkpoint.

McKinney made a statement listing accomplishments of her office and scolding the local media for concentrating coverage of the slapping incident.

She refused to take any questions from reporters.

Supporters included Democratic state legislators Representative "Able" Mable Thomas and Senator Vincent Fort. Her supporters pledged to stand by McKinney.

McKinney held a news conference Friday in Washington in which she said "This whole incident was instigated by the inappropriate touching and stopping of me, a female black congresswoman."

McKinney, also a Democrat, declined to discuss the incident further since she still may be charged with striking the officer after she entered a House office building unrecognized and did not stop when asked. She and her two lawyers refused to say during the Washington news conference whether she hit the officer or how he touched her inappropriately.