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From NY Post:
Longtime Democratic Rep. Jerrold Nadler slammed President Trump for “sowing chaos” nationwide after federal agents handcuffed one of his aides inside his lower Manhattan office.
The lawmaker’s verbal tirade came after Department of Homeland Security officers entered the Big Apple office Wednesday and accused his staff of “harboring rioters” in a dramatic confrontation caught on video.
Federal Protective Service officers went to the congressman’s office to conduct a security check after receiving reports that protesters were hiding inside, DHS told The Post in a statement.
The video, obtained by Gothamist, showed one agent aggressively restraining a teary-eyed female staffer, while another employee asked for a warrant and blocked a second officer from entering a private section of the congressional office, located in the same Varick Street building as federal immigration court.
“Based on earlier incidents in a nearby facility, FPS officers were concerned about the safety of the federal employees in the office and went to the location to ensure the safety and wellbeing of those present,” Homeland Security officials said in a statement.
In the footage, a male agent explains to an employee that police have the right to search the premises.
“I’m a federal officer, we’re here checking on something,” the agent tells an employee who appears to be attempting to block his entry.
“We have the right to check,” the agent says. “You are harboring rioters in the office.”
At the same time, another officer can be seen arresting Nadler’s aide. Gothamist reported:
DHS later said in a statement that “one individual” — the woman seen being handcuffed — had blocked police from performing a security check they intended to do based on information there were protesters in the lawmaker’s office. Later that day, protesters gathered outside of the federal building, demonstrating against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
…
Nadler’s office would not comment on what led up to the chaotic incident, but two people who were at the courthouse to monitor ICE activity said the confrontation came after ICE officers threatened to arrest them and other advocates, and a Nadler staffer invited the advocates inside.
According to officials, the woman who was handcuffed had been “verbally confrontational and physically blocked access to the office” even after the officers identified themselves.
DHS said the woman was detained while they did a security check of the area.
An NYPD spokesperson said several demonstrators accused of blocking traffic outside the building were arrested
“In the demonstration, mutual aid volunteers assisting immigrants tried to block ICE vans transporting detained immigrants from leaving the building, according to organizers. Eighteen protesters were issued criminal summons, and five people were arrested and charged, the NYPD spokesperson said,” Gothamist reported.
In a statement to Politico, Nadler said, “President Trump and the Department of Homeland Security are sowing chaos in our communities, using intimidating tactics against both citizens and non-citizens in a reckless and dangerous manner.”
“If this can happen in a Member of Congress’s office, it can happen to anyone — and it is happening,” Nadler said.
WATCH:
READ MORE AT NYPost.com.
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