Green Party Senate Candidate’s Arm Broken During Capitol Hill Confrontation With Police

A Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate in North Carolina says his arm was broken this week during a confrontation with Capitol Hill police after he was forcibly removed from a Senate Armed Services subcommittee hearing for protesting U.S. involvement in the war between Israel and Iran.

Multiple outlets began reporting on March 4 that the altercation occurred during a recent hearing on military preparedness, during which a North Carolina man identified as Brian McGinnis was dragged out of the room after standing and shouting objections to the war. McGinnis has since been confirmed as being the same individual who is running for U.S. Senate in North Carolina as a Green Party candidate.

Video footage published by Turkey’s Anadolu Agency shows the moments leading up to the struggle, including McGinnis, who is wearing a U.S. Marine Corps uniform, standing and shouting multiple objections. Among his shouts are “Israel is the reason for this war” and “America does not want to send its sons and daughters to war for Israel.”

Following his protests, officers with the U.S. Capitol Police immediately attempted to remove McGinnis from the room, leading to a physical struggle in which he appears to hold onto the doorframe before his arm contorts unnaturally during the struggle. At that point, individuals in the room can be heard shouting that McGinnis’ hand had been injured.

In a statement to AP News released after the incident, the United States Capitol Police said McGinnis is facing three counts of assaulting a police officer, three counts of resisting arrest, and one count of crowding, obstructing, or incommoding for interrupting the hearing. Police alleged that McGinnis “violently” resisted officers’ attempts to remove him and said three officers were treated for injuries by emergency medical services.

The AP also reported that during the confrontation, Republican U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy left the dais and assisted officers in physically removing McGinnis from the chamber. Sheehy later wrote on social media that he became involved because McGinnis was “fighting back” against police and that he stepped in to help officers “deescalate the situation.” He also accused McGinnis of having come to the Capitol “looking for a confrontation.”

Meanwhile, McGinnis’ campaign manager, Mark Elbourno, spoke to CBS News, telling the outlet that McGinnis was arrested and transported to George Washington University Hospital following the incident. His current condition is not yet known. Elbourno denied that McGinnis assaulted officers and instead alleged that police were responsible for his injury.

The report further included separate video footage obtained by CBS showing the moments after McGinnis sustained injuries, including shouts from others in attendance that Sheehy had broken the hand of a Marine and McGinnis saying his hand was not okay when asked by another individual.

The Green Party of the United States also issued a statement repeating McGinnis’ remarks about Americans not wanting to send their sons and daughters to die for Israel. “[F]ormer Marine and Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate from NC spoke this truth to power today at a Senate Armed Forces hearing and was promptly assaulted and had his arm broken by Capitol Police!” the party wrote. “The Green Party is proud to stand with Brian McGinnis and all brave veterans who have chosen to be warriors for peace.”