This article was originally published by Hayat Norimine in the Idaho Statesman.
U.S. Capitol Police is investigating a report that Western Idaho’s U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher allegedly assaulted an officer at the Capitol building, a congressional reporter said Wednesday.
Huffington Post’s Matt Fuller, who covers Congress, tweeted that police on Wednesday interviewed him about an incident he witnessed involving Fulcher at the metal detectors outside the House floor on Jan. 12 during debate about former President Donald Trump’s impeachment. Fuller said he did not file the report.
Fulcher, in a statement to the Idaho Statesman on Wednesday evening, said his office isn’t aware of an investigation.
“Should there be further inquiries, we look forward to formally setting the record straight on these fabricated media accusations,” Fulcher said in the statement. “However, please keep in mind in this majority driven hostile political environment, neither truth nor fairness is the objective.”
Fuller told the Statesman on Wednesday that he saw Fulcher aggressively manhandle a female officer after he set off the metal detectors the night of Jan. 12. Fuller said he was interviewed as a witness to the incident, which he described in tweets. Capitol Police did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday.
Fuller said the officer appeared to step out of Fulcher’s way, but that Fulcher put his hands on her shoulders and pushed through her. Fuller recalled that the female officer seemed emotional after the interaction.
Fuller said “it was such an aggressive interaction that it stuck with me” for over a month.
So Capitol Police called me today to come in for an interview.
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) February 17, 2021
They were pretty cryptic on what it was about, but it turns out they have two ongoing investigations that I was witness to: one, the potential assault of an officer by a Member of Congress, the other, Andy Harris.
On his social media accounts Jan. 13, Fulcher denied any rude interactions with police. He said he was part of a protest against security protocols, including metal detectors.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in January ordered additional security measures after the deadly Capitol riot and ahead of President Joe Biden’s inauguration.
“Member screening puts our Capitol police in an awkward position of screening those they are to protect, redirects resources away from outside threats and implies members are a threat to one another … a notion I reject,” Fulcher wrote in his Jan. 13 post.
Capitol Police also asked Fuller about U.S. Rep. Andy Harris’ attempt to bring a gun to the House chamber, Fuller said. But he told the Statesman that Fulcher was the only House member he witnessed who made physical contact with an officer.
“The fact that it was a cop really was why it was so jarring,” Fuller told the Statesman on Wednesday. “You just wouldn’t see anyone do that to an officer.”
