Rep. Don Young has apologized for forcefully twisting the arm of a congressional staffer Thursday at the Capitol.
Photo and video taken by an NBC News producer on Thursday showed the Alaska Republican grabbing and twisting the arm of David Smentek, who had tried to block Mr. Young from using a side door to enter a House Republican meeting.
“While returning to the GOP conference meeting to discuss the ongoing situation on our southern border, I was caught off guard by an unidentified individual who was physically blocking me from re-entering the room,” Mr. Young, 81, said in a statement, Politico reported. “Regardless, my reaction was wrong, and I should have never placed my hands on the young man.”
Forrest Dunbar, the Democratic congressional candidate challenging Mr. Young in November, condemned the incident.
“As a former congressional staffer, I know I’d lose a lot of respect for a representative who did this to me or a colleague,” Mr. Dunbar wrote in an email, Politico reported. “It’s just extremely belittling in context.”
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.