House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has accused the Trump administration of attempting to intimidate Democrats by handcuffing one of Rep. Jerry Nadler’s aides in his Manhattan office.
The Department of Homeland Security entered Nadler’s office last week alleging that his staff was harboring rioters. Jeffries refrained from providing specific details but criticized the administration for its actions.
“I think the administration is clearly trying to intimidate Democrats, in the same way that they’re trying to intimidate the country,” Jeffries stated in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Jeffries had previously stated that the arresting of Congressional Democrats would be a “red line” and emphasized that Democrats will determine how to respond at a suitable time and manner.
“Let me make it clear that the House is a separate and co-equal branch of government, the Congress. We don’t work for Donald Trump. We work for the American people,” Jeffries added.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also condemned the dramatic encounter, stating, “Unbelievable. Unbelievable, that’s my reaction to it.”
Nadler publicly denounced the altercation in his office and blamed the Trump administration for causing chaos in the communities.
The aide had been briefly detained after witnessing agents apprehending migrants in the building where Nadler’s office is located near an immigration courtroom.
Democrats have faced similar confrontations with law enforcement in recent weeks, including Rep. LaMonica McIver’s incident with agents at an ICE detention center.
Jeffries highlighted that Democrats have responded to such instances in various ways and have remained steadfast in their actions.
“Donald Trump has learned a valuable lesson. The American people are not willing to submit to a wannabe king, which is why he is the most unpopular president at this point in American history,” Jeffries concluded.
Additional reporting by Steve Vago.
