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On Wednesday afternoon, Senator Tim Sheehy, a Republican from Montana, played a key role in assisting Capitol Police with the ejection of a protester during a congressional hearing.
A video shared by a CBS News reporter captures the moment Senator Sheehy supported officers in escorting Brian McGinnis out of the Senate Armed Services Committee session.
McGinnis, who is currently campaigning as a Green Party candidate for the U.S. Senate in North Carolina, is also a former Marine sergeant.
In a post on the social platform X, Sheehy commented, “Capitol Police were attempting to remove an unstable protester from the Armed Services hearing. He was resisting, so I chose to assist and help calm the situation.”
The senator further stated, “This individual came to the Capitol seeking a confrontation, and he certainly found one. I hope he receives the necessary assistance without resorting to more violence.”
“Capitol Police were attempting to remove an unhinged protestor from the Armed Services hearing. He was fighting back. I decided to help out and deescalate the situation,” Sheehy wrote in a post on the social platform X.
“This gentleman came to the Capitol looking for a confrontation, and he got one,” the senator continued. “I hope he gets the help he needs without causing further violence.”
An anti-war activist, McGinnis could be heard shouting “No one wants to fight for Israel” as he resisted police by sticking his arm in a door.
A spokesperson for U.S. Capitol Police told The Hill in a statement that three officers sustained injuries during the incident, as did McGinnis.
“This afternoon, an unruly man who started to illegally protest during a hearing, put everyone in a dangerous position by violently resisting and fighting our officer’s attempts to remove him from the room,” the spokesperson said.
“The outburst happened just before 3:00 p.m., during a hearing inside the Hart Senate Office Building,” the statement continued. “Three officers had to be treated for injuries by DC Fire & EMS. The suspect, who got his own arm stuck in a door to resist our officers and force his way back into the hearing room, was also treated.”
McGinnis is facing three counts for assaulting a police officer and three counts related to his attempts to resist arrest, according to the department.
“Protests are not allowed inside the Congressional Buildings,” the department spokesperson said. “There are plenty of other spots on Capitol Grounds, outside, where demonstrations are allowed.”