Congress

House Democrat and Capitol Police union trade accusations over Tuesday incident

Published

6 months ago

October 15, 2025

An incident that unfolded Tuesday evening outside Speaker Mike Johnson’s Capitol office has prompted starkly divergent responses from the union representing the U.S. Capitol Police and the Democratic lawmaker involved.

Amid a march of House Democrats to Johnson’s office to demand the seating of Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, video footage captured a tense exchange between California Rep. Nanette Barragán and a Capitol Police officer who was standing in the entry to the office suite.

Barragán brushed past the officer, the video showed, entering a reception area. Johnson was not present.

Union chair Gus Papathanasiou said in a statement that Barragán’s behavior was “unacceptable” and asked for the California Democrat to apologize. He applauded the officer for “maintaining composure as he’s doing his job.”

“Tensions are high because of the [government] shutdown as it is and our officers don’t deserve that,” he added.

Capitol Police officers missed their first full paycheck last week as a result of the government shutdown. The union has warned of dire financial consequences for officers who are still protecting the Capitol without pay if the shutdown drags on.

Barragán, meanwhile, said in her own statement that she was the one deserving of an apology. She said an officer “forcefully grabbed” her on her back as she and other Democrats tried to speak to Johnson at his office.

The officer, she claimed, “tried to find me and apologize for the incident.”

“I appreciate the officer’s gesture — and am grateful for the work of all our USCP officers,” she continued. “I know they have a difficult job and are being asked to work without pay during this Republican shutdown. I am hopeful that Capitol Police leadership would make sure our officers are trained well and do not prevent Members from carrying out their constitutional duties.”

Barragán said she asked for a meeting with Capitol Police leadership Wednesday and expected it could happen today “and that will be the end of the story.” Department spokespeople are furloughed for the shutdown and are not responding to requests for comment.

Republicans have slammed Democrats over the incident, with Johnson telling reporters Wednesday that the protest and incident “shows their desperation.”

Congress

Senate launches budget debate

Published

43 minutes ago

April 21, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

Senate Republicans opened debate Tuesday on a fiscal blueprint meant to pave the way for passage of a party-line immigration enforcement funding bill later this year.

The Senate voted 52-46 to advance the budget resolution, which Budget Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) unveiled earlier Tuesday. It instructs House and Senate committees to write legislation expected to deliver about $70 billion to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other agencies.

The Senate is expected to give the measure final approval this week before leaving town. The chamber could move to a marathon voting session, known as a vote-a-rama, as soon as Wednesday, though plenty of Republicans are betting that it won’t start until Thursday.

Congress

Cherfilus-McCormick resigns amid ethics investigation

Published

4 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) has resigned in the face of corruption charges at home and calls for her ouster in Washington, she announced in a statement on Tuesday.

News broke minutes before the House Ethics Committee was about to meet for a public hearing Tuesday afternoon to determine a punishment for the third-term Democrat, who was charged with stealing $5 million in Covid relief funds.

Cherfilus-McCormick said in a statement the Ethics proceedings did not constitute a “fair process” and that she was “choos[ing] to step aside” rather than “play these political games.”

Congress

Rick Scott holds up Coast Guard promotions

Published

4 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

Florida Sen. Rick Scott is blocking quick confirmation of hundreds of Coast Guard promotions as he tries to resolve a dispute involving a shipbuilder in his home state.

The Republican said in an interview Tuesday that he has placed a hold on the Coast Guard promotions, which prevents the Senate from easily clearing them unanimously and would force Majority Leader John Thune to set up time-consuming roll call votes on promotions that are usually agreed to with little fanfare.

“I’ve been talking … since Trump came into office about trying to resolve an issue they have with a boat builder in Florida. And they … won’t put the time in to get a result,” Scott said.

“I’ve met with everybody that I can meet with, and I want them to focus,” Scott said of the Coast Guard, adding that he wasn’t trying to dictate the outcome to the administration but emphasizing “you have to get this resolved.”

Scott didn’t specify which shipbuilder he was referring to. But Scott has been a longtime booster of a Coast Guard contract with Panama City-based Eastern Shipbuilding Group to deliver four new advanced cutters. A person granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter said the hold is related to the company.

Then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem scrapped plans for two of the boats last year, and ESG announced in November it would stop work on the two remaining boats “due to significant financial strain caused by the program’s structure and conditions.”

The tussle over the nominations comes as Thune is trying to quickly assemble and approve a new personnel package, telling reporters Monday night that confirming another tranche of President Donald Trump’s nominees is a priority alongside resolving the DHS shutdown and renewing soon-to-lapse surveillance powers.