Update:
Capitol Police confirmed to Townhall Tuesday that "demonstrators were attempting to enter," Rep. Andy Harris's office and "In addition, two demonstrators were observed to display and light marijuana cigarettes."
The "two female Suspects were arrested and transported to USCP Headquarters for processing."
The women arrested for consumption and possession of marijuana in a public space were Kristin Furnish, age 28, from Salisbury, Maryland, and Rachel Ramon Donlan, age 46, from Washington, D.C.
Original Post
Jennifer Bendery, the senior politics reporter at The Huffington Post, first reported Tuesday that Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) was accosted by demonstrators in his office.
Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) just had his office door pushed through and was assaulted by demonstrators, a Cap Police officer tells me
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) October 2, 2018
Bendery said the demonstrators were “smoking weed” and a demonstrator pushed Harris’s office door open. U.S. Capitol police told her there were no injuries.
Another little detail, per Cap Police officer: Harris was trying to hold his office door closed but was not successful. Also the demonstrators were smoking weed. (?!)
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) October 2, 2018
Fox’s Chad Pergram reported that two female protesters confronted Harris as he was heading out of his office to preside over a pro forma session in the House. A tussle ensued and Harris’s hand reportedly got jammed in the door.
Fox is told GOP MD Rep Andy Harris was leaving his office to preside over the pro forma session in the Hse when he was confronted by 2 protesters. women. Sr CapHill source tells Fox a tussle ensued near the doorway of Harris’s office, and at some point, Harris’s hand was jammed
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) October 2, 2018
Video of the incident, however, simply shows two women trying to push their way in after Harris as he enters his office and slams the door shut. One of the women later tried to jam her foot in the door.
Watch what happened at 0:47 in @aeidinger's broadcast: Here we go #OverdoseHarris #FreeDC #Cannabis #Marijuana #Opi… https://t.co/tNsu78KXGW
— Natural Woman. (@I_Luv_Thinkers) October 2, 2018
In response to the video, Bendery said that the incident didn't look like assault.
This is the incident that happened at Rep. Andy Harris' office today that a Cap Police officer described to me as "assault." I don't know how far the definition stretches, but this sure doesn't look like any assault. https://t.co/vpPrQ55vjW
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) October 2, 2018
Fox was also told that one of the protestors was sent to the hospital after she fell and said she was injured.
Fox is told that one of the protesters at Harris's office fell and said she was injured. She has been transported to the hospital. It is unclear if there were arrests after the incident. GOP MD Rep Harris did preside over the House's pro forma session and was on time.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) October 2, 2018
Roll Call reports that “Capitol Police shut down the hallway” in the House Longworth building as protestor Rachel Ramone “lay down and smoked marijuana in the hallway outside Harris’s office. Officers later removed Ramone in a wheelchair and handcuffs.”
They say the demonstrators were from DC Marijuana Justice and the newly-formed Maryland Marijuana Justice. These groups "advocate marijuana legalization as an alternative to the opioid crisis" and were outside Harris’s office to "stage an overdose.”
This story has been updated with a statement from the Capitol Police.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member