Raleigh firefighter, Marine veteran arrested after disrupting Senate hearing, placed on leave

Brian C. McGinnis, 44, a senior firefighter with the Raleigh Fire Department and a Green Party candidate for the 2026 U.S. Senate race in North Carolina, was arrested by U.S. Capitol Police after standing up and shouting during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing at the U.S. Capitol, video and law-enforcement statements show. Capitol Police said the protest created a dangerous situation and moved to remove him from the hearing room.

Video captured McGinnis shouting anti-war remarks in the hearing room; ABC11 reported he yelled, "America does not want to send its sons and daughters to war for Israel!" while WRAL transcribed the chant as, "No one wants to fight for Israel." Carolina Journal noted social media clips of McGinnis outside the Capitol saying he planned to confront lawmakers about the chance of the U.S. entering another conflict.

Body-camera and cell phone footage recorded McGinnis resisting officers as they attempted to escort him out, with him grabbing a doorframe to remain inside the hearing room. Witness audio on video included shouts of "His hand, his hand!" as officers and Montana Republican Sen. Tim Sheehy intervened; ABC11 reported Sheehy later said he was trying to de-escalate the situation. ABC11 quoted Capitol Police: "This afternoon, an unruly man who started to illegally protest during a hearing put everyone in a dangerous position by violently resisting and fighting our officer's attempts to remove him from the room."

Authorities say injuries resulted from the confrontation. Multiple outlets reported three U.S. Capitol Police officers were injured and treated by fire and emergency services; WRAL and other reports say McGinnis was also injured. ABC11 quoted Capitol Police as saying McGinnis "got his own arm stuck in a door to resist our officers and force his way back into the hearing room." The News & Observer and FireRescue1 noted video that appears to show McGinnis’ arm injured during removal.

Charging details vary by outlet but indicate multiple misdemeanor counts. FireRescue1 lists seven criminal charges: three counts of misdemeanor assault on a police officer, three counts of misdemeanor resisting arrest, and one misdemeanor count of crowding, obstructing, and incommoding. ABC11 and Carolina Journal reported Capitol Police saying charges include assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest and unlawful demonstration inside a government building.

The Raleigh Fire Department confirmed McGinnis has been placed on paid administrative leave while the department conducts an active investigation; FireRescue1 cited Raleigh Fire Chief Herbert Griffin on the leave status. Supporters have launched a GoFundMe for McGinnis’ legal and medical expenses; WRAL reported the fundraiser had raised nearly $45,000 and quoted the page saying, "Brian is not a career politician. He is not a professional activist. He is a United States Marine Corps veteran who served from 2000 to 2004 and a firefighter who spent years protecting his community."

The episode drew attention amid North Carolina’s Senate primary season; FireRescue1 and McClatchy noted the incident occurred as former Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican Michael Whatley had just secured their party nominations the previous night. Sen. Thom Tillis posted on social media thanking Sen. Sheehy for assisting officers, writing, "Thank you @TimSheehyMT for helping Capitol Police with this unhinged protestor who injured three officers while violently resisting arrest," a line reported by The News & Observer.

Capitol Police made the arrest but outlets did not publish booking, bail or court date details. Officials and campaign representatives have not provided a public statement resolving discrepancies in charge labels or injury accounts, and the formal charging document and D.C. court schedule remain to be confirmed.