A conservative lawmaker was interrupted by a blue-shirted protester outside a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. The protester, Jake Burdett, approached Rep. Clay Higgins, representing south Louisiana, and asked questions about whether his recent divorce was linked to her restaurant's tainted pork sliders before Higgins escorted him away.
When confronted by Burdett and other people present at the scene, Higgins physically propelled him away from the event. After the rally ended, another press conference was set up in the same spot immediately after. Higgins was then escorted out and turned over to Capitol Police, who questioned him across the street.
Burd Pett has been cleared of any wrongdoing by Capitol Police but is now facing charges of assault and disorderly conduct while considering taking this case to court.
A video of Rep. Clay Higgins forcibly removing an activist from a press conference went viral on social media platforms with users calling for his arrest. The incident occurred during a news briefing with fellow GOP Representatives Paul Gosar and Lauren Boebert of Colorado on Wednesday.
After asking questions that mocked lawmakers' personal lives including those aimed at their divorces, Burdett said he had come there coincidentally for a Medicare for All event when he recognized some GOP lawmakers and decided to stay back to ask them further questions.
Retired U.S Army General Mark Hertling responded through Twitter about how he once "fired a junior officer for assaulting a soldier" while calling for Higgins' arrest following these events.
The activist informed via follow-up text that he is currently "consulting with legal counsel" in order to file charges if solid grounds are found regarding this issue.
Jake Burdett filmed himself confronting Republican Reps Paul Gosar and Lauren Boebert during which time Rep Clay Higgings intervened quickly requesting him to “peacefully stand by with your camera” so as not to disrupt the proceedings.
In a second video, Burd Pett shouts questions at Boebert about her recent divorce filing before Higgins rushes up and manhandles him away from the podium. Although he was merely asking “tough questions” to Gosar, Capitol Police eventually released Burdett without charges.
He has stated in an interview with a website that while evaluating his legal options at present, he is "absolutely prepared to press charges" as long as they are viable. It should be noted that during this incident no physical injuries were sustained by either party involved.