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Pugnacious McKinney Aide Is "Paid Intern"

Posted: 4:20 pm EDT August 9, 2006Updated: 4:35 pm EDT August 9, 2006

WASHINGTON -- The aide for Rep. Cynthia McKinney who got physical with a TV photographer Tuesday night is the same man who scuffled with WSB-TV Channel 2’s Washington bureau reporter Scott MacFarlane in April.

Sources tell Channel 2 Action News the man is 62-year-old Steve Muhammad.

Muhammad is not a police officer, but he is a well known figure in the world of martial artists.

Muhammad is grandmaster of the Black Karate Federation and has appeared in movies, including a Bruce Lee film.

He also doubles as a security guard.

Muhammad is the same assistant who got physical with MacFarlane as he tried to question Rep. McKinney about allegations she punched a Capitol police officer.

At the time Muhammad claimed he was a police officer, although he was not.

Channel 2 Action News has confirmed that Muhammad is on the federal payroll.

He is listed as a member of Rep. McKinney’s Washington staff.

Muhammad earned $11,000 in 2005. In federal records, he's listed as a "paid intern"

McKinney’s staff said he works as the congresswoman’s driver.

A complaint was filed with police after Tuesday’s incident.

Channel 2 Action News also knows Capitol police investigated Muhammad after his run-in with MacFarlane in April.

No charges were filed by the Action News crew so that investigation was called off.

Copyright 2006 by WSBTV.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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