Lawmaker Reportedly Under Investigation For ‘Manhandling’ Capitol Cop

Washington, DC – The U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) are reportedly investigating a congressman from Idaho whom a Huffington Post reporter claimed he saw “manhandling” a female police officer at the House chamber’s metal detectors.

The incident allegedly occurred on the evening of Jan. 12 while lawmakers were debating former President Donald Trump’s impeachment in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Idaho Statesman reported.

The Capitol Police had just set up new metal detectors at the entrances to the House chamber at the direction of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) and GOP legislators were furious about it.

The metal detectors were installed for the purpose of screening everyone who entered the House chamber after lawmakers complained they had feared for their lives during the Capitol riot a week earlier, according to The Hill.

In the past, members of Congress have been excused from passing through metal detectors at the main entrances to the Capitol building.

The new metal detectors were installed at select entrances to the House chamber, The Hill reported.

Numerous Republican lawmakers called the metal detectors unnecessary and many of them skipped going through them.

“Another member — I believe it was Russ Fulcher — just pushed his way through. He went through the metal detector, set it off, ran into a cop, and then pushed his way past her,” Huffington Post reporter Matt Fuller tweeted on Jan. 12.

Another member — I believe it was Russ Fulcher — just pushed his way through. He went through the metal detector, set it off, ran into a cop, and then pushed his way past her.

— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) January 13, 2021

Fuller tweeted more details the following morning about U.S. Representative Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho) blowing off the new security checkpoint

“Rep. Russ Fulcher sees reporters staking out the door where he pushed past a cop to get through to the House floor,” Fuller tweeted. “He walks to a different door and does it again, thinking he’s out of sight. (But I followed him.)”

The reporter went on to say that he hadn’t interviewed the police officer Fulcher allegedly pushed, but said she got into the congressman’s way “inadvertently.”

“As an aside, Russ Fulcher was the most aggressive member pushing through the metal detectors last night. A female officer kind of got in his way—I think inadvertently—and he really was…assertive. The cop didn’t want to talk, but she almost seemed on the verge of tears after,” Fuller added in another tweet.

As an aside, Russ Fulcher was the most aggressive member pushing through the metal detectors last night.

A female officer kind of got in his way—I think inadvertently—and he really was…assertive.

The cop didn’t want to talk, but she almost seemed on the verge of tears after.

— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) January 13, 2021

The reporter, however, said he did not file a police report about his observations.

On Wednesday, Fuller tweeted that he had been interviewed by USCP regarding two ongoing investigations in connection with the incident at the newly-installed metal detectors.

With regard to Fulcher, he tweeted that he told police “I saw him very aggressively brush a female officer aside after he set the magnetometer off the night of 1/12.”

The reporter opined in his tweet that the officer “nearly had tears in her eyes” and wouldn’t talk to him after it happened.

U.S. Capitol Police officers are not allowed to give interviews to the media, per department policy.

“The fact that it was a cop really was why it was so jarring,” Fuller told the Idaho Statesman. “You just wouldn’t see anyone do that to an officer.”

Fuller said he was also questioned by Capitol Police investigators about U.S. Representative Andy Harris (R-Maryland) and how he’d tried to get around the House chamber’s gun restrictions.

“The other investigation was about Andy Harris bringing a gun to the House chamber, being turned away, and then asking Rep. John Katko if he would take the gun for Harris,” the reporter tweeted.

“The cops wouldn’t tell me exactly what they were investigating about that incident, but judging by their questions, they were interested in determining whether Harris’s gun was concealed…,” he added in another tweet.

The cops wouldn’t tell me exactly what they were investigating about that incident, but judging by their questions, they were interested in determining whether Harris’s gun was concealed…

— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) February 17, 2021

Fulcher told the Idaho Statesman that his office hadn’t heard there was any investigation.

“Should there be further inquiries, we look forward to formally setting the record straight on these fabricated media accusations,” the congressman said. “However, please keep in mind in this majority driven hostile political environment, neither truth nor fairness is the objective.”