An incident that unfolded Tuesday evening outside Speaker Mike Johnson’s Capitol office has prompted starkly divergent responses from the union representing the U.S. Capitol Police and the Democratic lawmaker involved.
Amid a march of House Democrats to Johnson’s office to demand the seating of Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, video footage captured a tense exchange between California Rep. Nanette Barragán and a Capitol Police officer who was standing in the entry to the office suite.
Barragán brushed past the officer, the video showed, entering a reception area. Johnson was not present.
Union chair Gus Papathanasiou said in a statement that Barragán’s behavior was “unacceptable” and asked for the California Democrat to apologize. He applauded the officer for “maintaining composure as he’s doing his job.”
“Tensions are high because of the [government] shutdown as it is and our officers don’t deserve that,” he added.
Capitol Police officers missed their first full paycheck last week as a result of the government shutdown. The union has warned of dire financial consequences for officers who are still protecting the Capitol without pay if the shutdown drags on.
Barragán, meanwhile, said in her own statement that she was the one deserving of an apology. She said an officer “forcefully grabbed” her on her back as she and other Democrats tried to speak to Johnson at his office.
The officer, she claimed, “tried to find me and apologize for the incident.”
“I appreciate the officer’s gesture — and am grateful for the work of all our USCP officers,” she continued. “I know they have a difficult job and are being asked to work without pay during this Republican shutdown. I am hopeful that Capitol Police leadership would make sure our officers are trained well and do not prevent Members from carrying out their constitutional duties.”
Barragán said she asked for a meeting with Capitol Police leadership Wednesday and expected it could happen today “and that will be the end of the story.” Department spokespeople are furloughed for the shutdown and are not responding to requests for comment.
Republicans have slammed Democrats over the incident, with Johnson telling reporters Wednesday that the protest and incident “shows their desperation.”
