Pot-smoking protesters tried to force their way into Maryland Republican Rep. Andy Harris’ office on Capitol Hill on Tuesday.
According to Jennifer Bendery, a reporter for The Huffington Post, the Capitol Police confirmed that protesters pushed in the door to Harris’ office and claimed that the congressman was “assaulted.” Video of the incident does not corroborate an assault.
Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) just had his office door pushed through and was assaulted by demonstrators, a Cap Police officer tells me
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) October 2, 2018
“Harris was trying to hold his office door closed but was not successful,” Bendery tweeted. “Also the demonstrators were smoking weed.”
Another little detail, per Cap Police officer: Harris was trying to hold his office door closed but was not successful. Also the demonstrators were smoking weed. (?!)
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) October 2, 2018
No one was injured during the incident, according to the same Capitol Police officer.
No injuries, says officer.
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) October 2, 2018
The scene outside Rep Andy Harris office pic.twitter.com/C3C0AkzDEE
— Alex Moe (@AlexNBCNews) October 2, 2018
A spokesperson for Rep. Harris and the Capitol Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Daily Caller.
USCP: The USCP is responding to demonstration activity in the vicinity of room 1533 of the Longworth House Office Building. All other personnel are directed to avoid the area until further notice. (This is the office of GOP MD Rep Andy Harris)
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) October 2, 2018
The incident occurred just one week after protesters swarmed Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and his wife, Heidi, at an upscale restaurant in Washington, D.C. The restaurant, Fiola, hired security after the incident.
UPDATE (1:28 pm):
A video of the incident does not appear to show Rep. Harris being assaulted by the protesters, as HuffPo reporter Jennifer Bendery initially claimed. The protesters tried to follow Harris into his office, and Harris successfully closed the door to prevent them from entering. The language in the headline and body of this article have been updated to accurately reflect the incident.
Here is apparent video of what a HuffPo reporter described as the “assault” of Andy Harris, per Cap Police. Scrubbed through, but not seeing an assault in here yet. https://t.co/ubbxDViUgc
— Vince Coglianese (@TheDCVince) October 2, 2018