Montana Republican Sen. Tim Sheehy is responding to criticism after a Marine was badly injured during a tense moment inside a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill.
The incident occurred Wednesday when Brian McGinnis, a Marine Corps veteran wearing his dress uniform, interrupted the hearing to speak out against the joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran.
McGinnis began voicing opposition to the conflict during the hearing, prompting Capitol Police to move in and remove him from the chamber. According to reports, the Marine resisted as officers attempted to escort him out.
During the struggle, Sen. Sheehy stepped in to assist Capitol Police as they attempted to move McGinnis through the doorway and out of the hearing room.
As the confrontation reached the door, McGinnis’ arm became caught in the door frame while officers pushed him out of the chamber. Witnesses reported hearing a snapping sound during the scuffle, and the Marine later appeared to have suffered a broken arm.
While being removed, McGinnis shouted his opposition to the war, saying, “No one wants to fight for Israel.”
At one point during the incident, a person in the audience shouted that a sitting U.S. senator had broken the Marine’s hand. McGinnis was later treated for his injuries along with officers involved in the struggle. Capitol Police arrested him following the incident.
Authorities say the marine, McGinnis, now faces three counts each of assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, and unlawful demonstration. In a statement, Capitol Police said the Marine’s arm became stuck in the doorway as he attempted to resist removal and have his voice be heard.
After the incident, Sheehy defended his act on social media, saying he stepped in to help officers manage the disruption.
“Capitol Police were attempting to remove a Marine from the Armed Services hearing who was fighting with officers,” Sheehy wrote. “I stepped in to help and de-escalate the situation.”
The senator’s involvement in the physical struggle drew criticism from some veterans’ groups and political activists, who questioned whether it was appropriate for a sitting senator to intervene in the incident.
Paul Rieckhoff, a veterans’ rights advocate and former Army officer, said the moment was troubling and argued that elected officials should leave physical security matters to law enforcement.
Earlier in the day, McGinnis had posted a video outside the Capitol explaining why he traveled to Washington. In the video, he said he wanted to question lawmakers about the possibility of sending American service members into another war.
“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 into harm’s way when our elected officials said there would be no world war,” McGinnis said.
“Anyone who feels disillusioned and betrayed by our government, you are not alone,” he added. “Join us in demanding accountability for this betrayal.”
