The tense atmosphere at the Senate Armed Services subcommittee hearing was widely shared online, with video showing Republican Sen. Tim Sheehy of Montana rushing to assist Capitol Police and remove an anti-war Marine veteran who interrupted the hearing.
Video of the confrontation – in which the veteran appeared to suffer a broken arm – sparked fierce backlash and debate online, with critics accusing the senator of escalating the situation and supporters crediting him with helping police regain control of the room.
Sen. Tim Sheehy takes on Marine Corps veteran Brian McGinnis
Marine Corps veteran and political candidate Brian McInnis interrupted a meeting of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Wednesday as police attempted to escort him from the room.
The confrontation escalated when McInnes, who was running for Senate as a Green Party candidate, refused to be recalled. The struggle left him with an injury to his arm or wrist, the video shows.
Before the incident, McInnis posted a video on X explaining why he planned to protest in a Capitol hearing room.
“Hi everyone, I’m in Washington trying to speak out against the Senate and asking them why they are putting our men and women in danger while our elected officials say this is not going to be a world war,” McInnis said in the video.
“Anyone who feels disillusioned and betrayed by our government, you are not alone. Join us in demanding accountability for this betrayal. Free Palestine, free America. Let’s go.”
Hours later, a video shared by CBS News reporter Alan He (@alanhe) showed Capitol Police trying to remove him after he yelled “no one wants to fight for Israel.”
During the scuffle, McGinnis hooked an arm on the doorframe of the hearing room while officers tried to carry him out. Shea rushed forward and grabbed McGinnis’ calf.
The senator then grabbed McGinnis by the shoulders and arms, apparently trying to pull him from the doorway. Obvious cracking sounds can be heard in the recording.
Injury claims and online reactions below
Another video later showed McGinnis being escorted away, with supporters saying he suffered a broken arm. Capitol Police later confirmed he received medical treatment but did not specify the nature of the injuries.
Capitol Police said in a statement that officers are required to respond when protests occur inside hearing rooms.
“This afternoon, an unruly man began unlawfully protesting at a hearing and violently resisted and resisted attempts by our officers to remove him from the room, putting everyone at risk,” the statement said.
Authorities also said three injured officers were receiving medical treatment. Meanwhile, McInnes reportedly faces three counts of assaulting a police officer and three counts of “resisting arrest, crowding, obstructing and impeding an unlawful demonstration.” montana daily.
Sheehy retweeted the video on his social media account and issued a statement calling the Marine Corps veteran “unhinged.”
Reactions online varied widely. Journalist Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) wrote: “This is crazy behavior from Sheehy.”
Others, however, praised the senator’s actions and painted McInnis as “belligerent” and “combative.”
Activist Medea Benjamin posted that McInnis “stood in Congress to express the thoughts of millions of Americans,” adding that security “dragged him out and broke his arm.”
Others claim Sheehy broke the veteran’s arm, but the footage isn’t clear.
Sheehy has accepted $641,337 from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), according to trackaipac.com, which tracks donations from pro-Israel lobby groups to U.S. politicians.
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