Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT) assisted Capitol police officers in removing an anti-war protester, who allegedly broke his hand during the scuffle, from a Senate hearing Wednesday centered around the conflict in Iran.
Amid the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee, Green Party U.S. Senate for North Carolina Brian McGinnis, distributed the hearing. McGinnis, dressed in a U.S. Marines uniform, stood up from his seat to share his take, according to a video.
“Isreal is the reason for this war,” McGinnis, an ex-Marine said calmly.
“America does not want to fight this war for Israel.”
Several officers approached McGinnis, asking him that it’s time to leave, leading to a tussle to ensue. McGinnis fought against the Capitol Police officers, falling into a row of chairs. Sheehy, a former Navy Seal, jumped in to intervene.
McGinnis continued to fight against the men as they pushed him through the door, causing his hand to get wedged.
After his hand was finally removed from the door, McGinnis claimed his hand was “broken.”
McGinnis continued to yell in the hallway.
“Free Palestine, from the Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli,” McGinnis yelled. “Palestine will be free.”
Following the incident, the Capitol Police released a statement saying that McGinnis faces three counts of assault on a police officer, three counts of resisting arrest and one count of crowding, obstructing and incommoding.
The Capitol Police accused McGinnis of putting “everyone in a dangerous position by violently resisting and fighting our officers’ attempts to remove him from the room.”
“Protests are not allowed inside the Congressional Buildings,” the Capitol Police said.
“There are plenty of other spots on Capitol Grounds, outside, where demonstrations are allowed.”
Sheehy acknowledged the altercation on X, saying he was trying to “help out and deescalate the situation.”
“This gentleman came to the Capitol looking for a confrontation, and he got one,” Sheehy said. “I hope he gets the help he needs without causing further violence.”
McGinnis’ reelection team released a statement on X from McGinnis’ account.
“On behalf of Brian’s family, we want to express our deepest gratitude for the overwhelming outpouring of support, messages, and contributions over the last 24 hours,” the team wrote.
“At this time, our priority is Brian’s wellbeing. We are taking a necessary step back from the public eye to allow him to focus fully on his recovery in private. While he looks forward to engaging with you all again very soon, his health and his family remain the current priorities,” the statement continued.
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