Rep. Cynthia McKinney has retained the legal services of defense attorney William B. Moffit in a case where she is said to have assaulted a uniformed officer last month, said her spokesman Coz Carson.    

“Congresswoman McKinney has apologized repeatedly about the incident,” said Carson, who is referring all legal questions about the March 29 scuffle to her attorney. “She is looking forward to having this matter put to rest in the very near future.“

Moffit, who was not immediately available to comment, is the former attorney for jailed Palestinian professor Sami Al-Arian. Al-Arian is being deported after federal prosecutors failed to convict him of helping lead a Palestinian militant group.

Moffit is also the past president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.   

McKinney,51, faces charges that she assaulted Paul McKenna, a third year officer in the U.S. Capitol Police, while entering a House office building. The Democrat has said she was not wearing proper identification when she entered the building.