Republican Rep. Clay Higgins roughs up activist at press conference

Republican Rep. Clay Higgins (La.) drew criticism Wednesday after he aggressively removed a protester from a Washington, D.C., press conference.

Jake Burdett, 25, posted images on Twitter Wednesday afternoon confronting Reps. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) and Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) at a media event on Capitol Hill. In one clip, the activist yells questions at Gosar before Higgins rushes up to him, introduces himself as a Louisiana representative, and asks Burdett to “wait peacefully with your camera and I promise…I’ll go talk to Gosar.” you directly”. up and answer all his questions. That seems fine to me?”

But in a second video, Burdett again yells questions at Boebert about his recent divorce petition before Higgins rushes in and roughs him up.

“Aren’t you a congressman, touching me?” says the protester in the video. “Get off me! You’re hurting me!”

Burdett said he was simply asking “tough questions” of Gosar, known for his close relationships with far-right extremists, including Nick Fuentesand Boebert.

Higgins, however, told HuffPost that Burdett was “threatening,” apparently referencing a police code for a disturbance by a person with mental health issues.

“He was escorted out and turned over to the Capitol Police,” he said. “Text book.”

Burdett he told The Daily Beast he was not injured during the incident and was eventually released by Capitol Police. He was in Washington to attend a Medicare for All rally for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), but he noted that Gosar and Boebert hosted a press conference after that event.

“I thought I’d ask you some tough questions,” he told the Beast. “Take care of them, whatever you want to call it.”

He added to the website that he was evaluating his legal options, but “absolutely prepared to press charges.”