WASHINGTON -- Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who could face criminal charges for allegedly punching a Capitol police officer in Washington, D.C., has signed on as a co-sponsor of a House bill formally honoring Capitol Police officers.

The bill is House Resolution 756, which would officially “Express the gratitude and appreciation of the House of Representatives to the professionalism and dedication of the United States Capitol Police”.

The bill was submitted on April 4, one week after the incident between Ms. McKinney and Capitol police officer Paul McKenna. At the time, Ms. McKinney’s supporters said the legislation was an attempt to embarrass the six-term Congresswoman from DeKalb County. 39 of the other 40 co-sponsors are Republicans.

Ms. McKinney is accused of striking officer McKenna on March 29 near a security checkpoint inside the Longworth House Office Building. The Congresswoman says the officer failed to recognize her, and then physically stopped her as she walked past a metal detector. Ms. McKinney accused the officer of stopping her because she is a “female, black Congresswoman”.

The Congresswoman’s relationship with Capitol Police became further strained when she held a press conference at Howard University along with entertainers Harry Belafonte and Danny Glover, in which participants accused police of racial profiling.

Shortly after, the President of the National Fraternal Order of Police, Chuck Canterbury, met with Officer McKenna in Washington and “discussed his (McKenna’s) legal options” against Ms. McKinney.

A Washington, D.C. Superior Court grand jury continues to deliberate Ms. McKinney’s case. The grand jury was given the case on April 5, but it has yet to hand up an indictment. At least six witnesses have been called to testify.

Ms. McKinney’s office has not yet responded to inquiries about the timing of her decision to co-sponsor this legislation. She is the only co-sponsor to sign on in the past seven weeks.