During a Senate hearing Wednesday on the arrest of a man protesting the war in Iran, Sen. Rep. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., assisted Capitol Police officers.
“The Capitol Police were trying to remove unhinged protesters from the Armed Services inquiry. They were fighting back. I decided to help and defuse the situation,” Sheehy said in a post on X.
Capitol Police have identified the man as 44-year-old Brian McGinnis of North Carolina, who faces three counts of assault on a police officer, three counts of resisting arrest and three counts of unlawful demonstration, disorderly conduct and suspension.
McGinnis is running for the US Senate in North Carolina as the Green Party candidate. According to his campaign website he is a marine veteran.
The incident took place during the hearing of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee. Sheehy helped remove McGinnis, who at one point wrapped his arms around the room’s door.
“This gentleman came to the Capitol for a showdown, and he got one,” Sheehy said in his post. “I hope he gets the help he needs without it causing more violence.”
Sheehy’s office directed NBC News to the senator’s post when asked for further comment on the incident. NBC News has reached out to McGinnis’ campaign for comment.
Capital Police said in a statement that three officers had to be treated for injuries after the incident.
“A suspect who got his arm caught in the door after being forced to resist our officers and return to the interrogation room was also treated,” the statement said.
McGinnis posted a video on X Wednesday morning, saying, “I’m in DC to speak against the Senate and try to ask them why they send our men and women into harm’s way when they say there won’t be a world war.”
“Anyone who feels disillusioned and betrayed by our government, you are not alone. Join us in demanding accountability for this betrayal,” McGuinness said in the video.
A Capitol Police statement said McGinnis “was an unruly individual who began to unlawfully protest during the hearing, violently resisting and fighting our officer’s efforts to remove him from the room, placing everyone in a dangerous position.”
Police said the incident happened just before 3pm during an inquiry inside the Hart Senate office building.
“Protests are not permitted inside Congressional buildings,” the Capitol Police statement added. “There are plenty of other spots on the Capitol grounds where demonstrations are allowed.”
