Jeffries, Hochul rage at Trump after Nadler’s aide nabbed by DHS agents: ‘Clearly trying to intimidate’
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is speaking out against what he sees as an attempt by the Trump administration to scare and pressure Democrats. His comments came after a surprising incident in New York, where federal agents stormed into the Manhattan office of Representative Jerry Nadler and briefly handcuffed one of Nadler’s aides. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed that Nadler’s office was “harboring rioters,” though there has been no solid evidence publicly presented to support that claim.
Jeffries didn’t go deep into the details of what happened, but he strongly criticized the way the administration handled it. He said it looked like a clear move to intimidate Democrats, just as the administration is trying to intimidate the general public. Jeffries emphasized that Congress is its own branch of government and does not answer to the president or the administration. “We don’t work for Donald Trump,” he said. “We work for the American people.”
The aide who was detained had reportedly witnessed federal agents apprehending migrants in the hallways of the building, which also houses an immigration court. When the aide questioned what was going on, DHS claimed the individual became verbally confrontational and blocked the agents’ path. That’s when they briefly handcuffed him. A video of the incident quickly spread online, drawing criticism and concern.
Nadler’s chief of staff said the DHS version of events was misleading. He suggested that the agents overreacted when someone challenged what they were doing. Representative Nadler himself condemned the incident, saying the Trump administration was creating fear and instability in communities for political reasons.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul was also shocked by the situation. She said she found it “unbelievable” that something like this could happen in a member of Congress’s office.
This isn’t the only recent case of Democrats clashing with federal law enforcement. Last month, Representative LaMonica McIver from New Jersey was charged after a confrontation with agents at an immigration detention center. Reports say she was trying to stop the arrest of Newark’s mayor, Ras Baraka.
Jeffries made it clear that Democrats won’t be silent about these events. He said they have already responded publicly and plan to keep the pressure on. He also took a swipe at Trump, saying Americans aren’t interested in following someone who acts like a dictator. Jeffries claimed Trump is now the most unpopular president at this point in office in U.S. history.
Altogether, these incidents are creating tension between the Trump administration and Democratic lawmakers. Many Democrats view the actions of federal agents as politically motivated and believe they are being targeted because of their opposition to Trump’s policies. Jeffries and others have promised to keep fighting back in what is shaping up to be a dramatic political showdown.
