WASHINGTON — Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., helped U.S. Capitol Police officers arrest a man protesting the war in Iran at a Senate hearing Wednesday.
“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 said on X.
Capitol Police identified the man as Brian McGinnis, 44, of North Carolina, who faces three counts of assault on a police officer, as well as three counts of resisting arrest and crowding, obstructing and incommoding in the unlawful demonstration.
McGinnis is running for the U.S. Senate in North Carolina as a Green Party candidate. He is a Marine veteran, according to his campaign website.
The incident happened during a Senate Armed Services subcommittee hearing. Sheehy helped remove McGinnis, who at one point wrapped his hands around the room’s door.
“This gentleman came to the Capitol looking for a confrontation, and he got one,” Sheehy said in his post. “I hope he gets the help he needs without causing further violence.”
Sheehy’s office directed NBC News to his post when it was asked for further comment on the incident. NBC News has reached out to McGinnis’ campaign for comment.
Capitol Police said in a statement that three officers were treated for injuries.
“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,” the statement said.
McGinnis said in a video Wednesday morning on X, “I’m here in D.C. trying to speak out against the Senate and ask them why they’re going to send our men and women to harm’ way when our elected officials said that it would be no world war.”
“Anybody who feels disillusioned and betrayed by our government, you’re not alone. Join us in demanding accountability for this betrayal,” McGinnis said in the video.
The Capitol Police statement called McGinnis “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 incident happened just before 3 p.m. during a hearing in the Hart Senate Office Building, police said.
“Protests are not allowed inside the Congressional Buildings,” Capitol Police added. “There are plenty of other spots on Capitol Grounds, outside, where demonstrations are allowed.”