On Wednesday, Senator Tim Sheehy found himself in the midst of a turbulent scene at the US Capitol Building, as he assisted law enforcement in managing an unruly protestor during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. The Montana Republican, drawing on his background as a former Navy SEAL, intervened when the situation took an unexpected turn.
In a dramatic incident captured on video, Brian McGinnis, identified as a Green Party Senate candidate, resisted the efforts of several Capitol Police officers who were attempting to escort him out of the hearing. McGinnis, clad in a US Marine Corps uniform, became embroiled in a physical struggle as officers tried to remove him from the premises.
Sheehy quickly joined the fray, attempting to pull the 44-year-old McGinnis away from the door of the room. The confrontation reached a tense moment when a loud snap was heard, which seemed to be the protester’s arm breaking, ultimately leading to the situation de-escalating inside the Hart Senate Office Building.
According to Capitol Police, McGinnis from North Carolina had been clinging to the door, resisting removal despite efforts by Sheehy and the officers. Reflecting on the incident, Sheehy shared on the social media platform X, “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.”
McGinnis, of North Carolina, had been refusing to let go of the door as Sheehy and officers tried removing him from the room, according to Capitol Police.
“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 on X.
“This gentleman came to the Capitol looking for a confrontation, and he got one. I hope he gets the help he needs without causing further violence.”
McGinnis is facing three counts of Assault on a Police Officer, as well as three counts of Resisting Arrest, and Crowding, Obstructing, and Incommoding for the unlawful demonstration.
“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,” Capitol Police told The Post.
Three officers had to be treated for injuries, while McGinnis was also treated, according to Capitol Police.
McGinnis is not an active duty Marine but appeared to be screaming about the US military offensive against Iran.
He did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
