House Democrats Call on GOP to Condemn DHS for Handcuffing Rep. Nadler's Staffer and Demand Noem’s Testimony

Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee are demanding answers after a dramatic incident in which Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents reportedly entered the congressional office of Rep. Jerry Nadler and handcuffed one of his staff members. In a strongly worded letter sent Tuesday, Ranking Members Jerry Nadler and Jamie Raskin called on House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan to publicly condemn DHS for what they describe as "irresponsible and dangerous actions." 

The letter directly disputes DHS’ assertion that its agents were conducting a routine "security check" when they entered Nadler’s office. Democrats argued that video footage from the incident shows agents forcefully detaining a staffer and seeking access to non-public areas, all without first inquiring about the safety or well-being of those present. The lawmakers emphasized, "These types of intimidation tactics are completely unwarranted and cannot be tolerated."

Specifically, Nadler and Raskin accused the agency of crossing legal lines, saying, "The decision to enter a congressional office and detain a congressional staff member demonstrates a deeply troubling disregard for proper legal boundaries." The lawmakers are urging Chairman Jordan to bring DHS Secretary Kristi Noem before the committee for immediate testimony and to denounce the incident as an affront to the separation of powers and the safety of Congress and its staff.

In response, DHS officials explained that Federal Protective Service (FPS) officers entered the Manhattan office amid reports of protesters in the building, which also houses an immigration courthouse. According to a spokesperson, officers were acting out of caution due to earlier protests in a nearby facility and went to ensure the safety of all federal employees. The spokesperson said, "Officers identified themselves and explained their intent to conduct a security check. However, one individual became verbally confrontational and physically blocked access to the office. The officers then detained the individual in the hallway for the purpose of completing the security check. All were released without further incident."

Despite the agency’s justification, Democratic committee members view the event as part of a broader pattern of heavy-handed enforcement under President Donald Trump. Their letter argues that "this incident is part of a broader pattern by President Donald J. Trump and DHS of using unlawful, chaotic, and reckless tactics in communities across America." They accuse the administration of employing harsh measures that intimidate not only typical community members but also lawmakers and their staff.

Rep. Nadler further condemned the Trump administration in a separate statement, accusing it of "sowing chaos" and warning against the normalization of such "illegitimate tactics." The Democrats concluded their letter with an urgent appeal: "The time is now to halt the use of these illegitimate tactics and to ensure that DHS complies with the law and with the norms of common human decency."

DHS has not yet issued an additional comment on the letter or the allegations raised by the House Judiciary Committee’s Democratic members. The incident continues to fuel debate over the boundaries of executive power and the responsibilities of federal law enforcement agencies when operating within the halls of Congress.