Sen. Tim Sheehy claimed the protester "came to the Capitol looking for a confrontation, and he got one"
Credit: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty; Andrew Harnik/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Video shows Montana Sen. Tim Sheehy involved in a physical altercation with a protester on Capitol Hill
- A man, who was wearing a Marine uniform and was identified as Brian McGinnis, was forcefully pulled away by police and Sheehy before his hand became wedged in a door and broke
- The confrontation began over opposing views regarding the U.S. and Israel’s ongoing war with Iran
Sen. Tim Sheehy joined police officers in physically pulling an anti-war protester from an Armed Services hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, March 4.
CBS News journalist Alan He shared video of the Wednesday, March 4, incident, adding that it was filmed by an “antiwar activist” who was not named.
"Capitol Police were attempting to remove an unhinged protestor from the Armed Services hearing. He was fighting back," Sheehy wrote on X. "I decided to help out and deescalate the situation."
"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," the senator continued.
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.
This gentleman came to the Capitol looking for a confrontation, and he got one. I hope he gets the help he… https://t.co/MU1THo8fKA
— Tim Sheehy (@TimSheehyMT) March 4, 2026
The video, which was just over one minute long, did not show the full altercation, instead beginning with a bystander filming as at least three Capitol police officers surrounding a man dressed as a Marine, appearing to grab him to push him out of the chambers.
The protester was identified as Brian McGinnis, 44, of North Carolina, NBC News reported, citing Capitol Police. McGinnis describes himself as a Marine veteran running as a Green Party candidate in North Carolina's Senate race, according to CBS News.
As the officers appeared to tackle McGinnis during the tense situation, Sheehy quickly appeared in the frame, grabbing his legs to help lift McGinnis and pull him out.
However, McGinnis held on to a door in an attempt to keep himself from being pulled away. “No one wants to fight for Israel!” he yelled as the police officers and Sheehy continued to pull him.
Credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty
As soon as he finished his sentence, a woman off-camera yelled for those involved to be aware of McGinnis's hand, which was in the crack of the door. Almost instantly, a loud crack was heard.
Others gasped as the woman off camera continued to yell about “his hand.”
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During this time, neither the Capitol police nor Sheehy appeared to stop physically attempting to remove McGinnis, whose entire body was now being lifted and pulled.
One onlooker was heard yelling, “Let go of his hand! A senator broke his hand.”
Some crowded around, yelling over one another and at the Capitol police and Sheehy, but no one physically intervened. The politician eventually walked off while being called a “coward” in the clip.
Credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty
In the seconds that followed, people in their seats appeared to be visibly shocked.
McGinnis was eventually set down as the Capitol officers worked to free his hand from the door. When a bystander asked if his hand was ok, he replied, "No, it's not,” while still wedged.
PEOPLE reached out to the U.S. Capitol Police for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
McGinnis was placed under arrest and transported to George Washington University Hospital, CBS News reported. Citing U.S. Capitol Police, the outlet added that McGinnis is facing three counts of assaulting a police officer, three counts of resisting arrest and one count of crowding, obstructing and incommoding.
“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," Capitol Police said in a statement to NBC News, adding that three officers were treated for their injuries. They also described McGinniss as "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."
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