Video shows protesters detained outside Jeff Flake’s DC office
Jul 10, 2017, 1:36 PM
JUST IN: Healthcare protesters detained outside of Senator Flake's office https://t.co/TLLXBWpkpW
— NBC News (@NBCNews) July 10, 2017
PHOENIX — A video posted online showed several protesters were detained outside of U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake’s office in Washington, D.C. on Monday.
In the video, at least two people were seen being detained before another fell to the floor, where she was placed in restraints.
About 10 protesters who were shouting slogans such as “health care is a human right” were led away from the corridor outside the office by Capitol Police.
The people were protesting against a proposed Senate health care bill that would repeal and replace the American Care Act, commonly referred to as Obamacare.
It is unknown if the detained people were arrested or removed the building.
Flake’s office said it did not call to have anyone detained or removed. The protesters were allowed inside his office and moved into the hallway, where the police were involved.
Flake has been the target of several recent protests.
Last week, two men were arrested outside of his Tucson office after one made a threat referencing the June shooting of House Majority Whip Steve Scalise at a baseball field outside of Washington, D.C.
Flake’s office said 59-year-old Mark Prichard asked a staffer, “You know how liberals are going to solve the Republican problem?”
When the staffer replied in the negative, Prichard allegedly said, “They are going to get better aim. That last guy tried, but he needed better aim. We will get better aim.”
Another man was arrested for trying to push past a staffer and get inside Flake’s office.
Earlier this year, protesters marched with a large inflatable duck outside Flake’s Phoenix office to protest the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
