Washington, DC (March 4, 2026) – A former Marine sergeant identified as Brian McGuinness interrupted a U.S. Senate Armed Services subcommittee hearing on Wednesday and was forcibly removed by Capitol Police. Senator Tim Sheehy of Montana assisted officers during the escort. The incident, captured on video, has spread rapidly online and drawn reactions from veterans and anti-war groups.
According to footage reviewed by multiple outlets, McGuinness stood up during the proceedings and shouted opposition to potential U.S. involvement in a conflict with Iran. Reports indicate he said words to the effect of “No one wants to fight for Israel!” while gripping the hearing room door. Officers repeatedly instructed him to release his hold, stating, “Sir. Sir. Sir. Let go of your hand. Let go the door. Let go. Let go.”
McGuinness, who wore a U.S. Marine Corps dress uniform, served as a Light Armored Vehicle Crewman until June 2004. His service included deployment during the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003. He later joined the All-Marine boxing team and earned an associate’s degree in education from John Wood Community College in Quincy, Illinois. He is an activist and Green Party candidate running for U.S. Senate in North Carolina. CBS News correspondent Alan He identified him publicly following the event.
Senator Sheehy later addressed the matter on social media. He stated that Capitol Police were attempting to remove an “unhinged protestor” who was “fighting back.” Sheehy added that he stepped in to help de-escalate and that the individual “came to the Capitol looking for a confrontation, and he got one.” He concluded by expressing hope that the man receives help “without causing further violence.”
Onlookers in the room reacted audibly to the removal. Voices can be heard exclaiming concern over McGuinness’s hand, with one person stating, “The senator broke his hand, a sitting U.S. Senator just broke the hand of a Marine!” Others shouted, “His hand, his hand! Oh! His hand! Oh, my God. Oh, shit.” No official medical confirmation or police report on any injury has been released as of this writing. Capitol Police have not issued a public statement on the matter.
The hearing focused on Armed Services topics, though specific details of the agenda were not immediately tied to the disruption in available coverage. The video clip, first amplified by alert accounts, has fueled online discussion. Supporters of McGuinness view the protest as a stand against unnecessary foreign conflicts. Others criticize the interruption of official proceedings.
This event underscores ongoing tensions around U.S. foreign policy debates in Congress. As a Green Party candidate in North Carolina, McGuinness has positioned himself as an outspoken voice on military and international issues.
