Top Dem Aide Handcuffed in Tense Standoff With Federal Agents
Department of Homeland Security officers entered Rep. Jerrold Nadler’s (D-NY) Manhattan office Wednesday, leading to a dramatic confrontation that resulted in the handcuffing of a congressional aide.
The incident unfolded when Federal Protective Service officers arrived at the longtime Democratic representative’s lower Manhattan office building on Varick Street.
The building also houses a federal immigration court.
Video footage obtained by Gothamist captured the tense encounter between federal agents and Nadler’s staff members.
The recording shows one agent aggressively restraining a female staffer who appeared visibly distressed.
A second congressional employee attempted to block another officer from accessing a private section of the office.
The staffer demanded to see a warrant before allowing entry to the restricted area.
“I’m a federal officer, we’re here checking on something,” the male agent stated to the employee blocking his path.
The agent insisted on his authority to conduct the check.
The confrontation escalated when the federal officer made a striking accusation.
“We have the right to check. You are harboring rioters in the office,” the agent declared during the heated exchange.
The back-and-forth continued until the congressional staffer eventually granted the agent access to the back office area.
The detained aide was released following the completion of the security check.
Federal Protective Service officers had responded to reports suggesting protesters were hiding inside the congressional office.
DHS officials provided their account of the incident in a statement to the New York Post.
“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 explained.
The detained individual was “verbally confrontational and physically blocked access to the office” after officers identified themselves and explained their presence, according to DHS.
The department justified the detention as necessary for completing their security check.
The incident reportedly began when a Nadler staffer invited two advocates into the office.
These advocates had been monitoring ICE activity at the nearby courthouse.
Rep. Nadler issued a strong statement condemning the federal agents’ actions.
“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,” Nadler told Politico.
The congressman expressed alarm at the broader implications of the incident.
“If this can happen in a Member of Congress’s office, it can happen to anyone — and it is happening,” Nadler stated.
Nadler characterized the confrontation as a violation of established legal protocols.
He described the incident as “deeply troubling” and suggested it represented a pattern of concerning behavior.
In comments to the New York Times Saturday, Nadler escalated his criticism of the Trump administration.
“The Trump administration is trying to intimidate members of Congress,” the representative stated.
Nadler made particularly strong accusations against the current administration’s tactics. “They’re behaving like fascists. We have to fight them. We don’t want to be a fascist country,” he told the Times.
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