A video showing Rep. Clay Higgins physically removing a protester from a press conference with Rep. Paul Gosar and Rep. Lauren Boebert on Wednesday went viral on Twitter. The protestor was identified as Jake Burdett.
Who is Jake Burdett?
Jake Burdett is a democratic socialist protester and describes himself as a “progressive activist” on Twitter.
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Burdett recorded himself confronting Gosar during a speech prior to the incident, which prompted Higgins to block the protester and state, “Let this man talk and then I’ll come talk to you privately.”
Higgins introduced himself as the South Louisiana representative and asked Burdett to “peacefully stand by with your camera” until the speech was finished so he could take questions. Burdett confronted the congresswoman and pushed past the barricades, moving towards her as Boebert started her own speech. In response, Burdett was forcibly removed from the gathering by Higgins.
Burdett could be heard saying, “Get off me! You are hurting me!.” Others could be heard shouting at Higgins to let Burdett go and to “calm down”.
According to several recordings, Burdett was being pushed out of the Washington, D.C. event by Higgins as the congressman yelled, “You’re out.” Burdett claimed in a Twitter post that he was detained by DC police following the incident.
“I am currently being detained by DC Police for asking tough questions to far right extremist Congressmen @RepGosar and @laurenboebert at a press conference. Rep Clay Higgins proceeded to assault/physically remove me from the press conference. For this, the cops detained me, not him,” he wrote.
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On Wednesday, Burdett appeared to participate in a Medicare for All rally with Sen. Bernie Sanders, and during the altercation with Higgins, he was seen donning an Our Revolution shirt.
