A viral video captures Senator Tim Sheehy aiding Capitol Police as they removed a disruptive protester during a Senate Armed Services hearing.
The footage shows Brian McGinnis, a Marine Corps veteran and Green Party candidate for Senate in North Carolina, being escorted out after interrupting the hearing to protest U.S. military action in Iran.
The video, filmed by an anti-war activist, records McGinnis accusing lawmakers of supporting a “war for Israel” while officers led him away.
When McGinnis refused to budge, Sheehy and Capitol Police moved to physically remove him from the chamber.
“No one wants to fight for Israel!” McGinnis repeatedly shouted as he was being removed.
A bystander then said McGinnis’ hand appeared to be stuck in the door, and the group slowed to free it.
McGinnis’ fellow anti-war protesters later accused Sheehy of breaking McGinnis’ hand.
Senator Sheehy joined Capitol Police in lifting up and ejecting anti war protestor Brian McGinnis from a SASC subcommittee hearing. McGinnis is a Green Party candidate running for Senate in N.C. An antiwar activist filmed the video below: pic.twitter.com/0dVA0ORWXQ
— Alan He (@alanhe) March 4, 2026
Sheehy later addressed the incident in a social media post.
“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,” the senator posted on X.
“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,” he added.
Sheehy is a freshman senator who unseated three-term Democratic incumbent Jon Tester in 2024.
He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2004 and later completed SEAL training.
He deployed to Afghanistan in 2012, where he was wounded in combat and received a Purple Heart.
He was awarded a Bronze Star with a “V” device for valor in 2015.
The Bronze Star was presented by then-Rep. Ryan Zinke, who announced his retirement from Congress earlier this week.
