Democratic Rep. Nadler Demands Congressional Investigation After Staffer Is Handcuffed At His Office

Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler is calling for a congressional investigation of the incident in which one of his staffers in New York City was handcuffed and briefly detained.

Speaking with CNN on Monday, Nadler said he is "communicating with Jim Jordan, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, demanding an investigation of this incident of, generally, ICE tactics, which are frankly very threatening to liberty."

Nadler also described the incident from his and his staffers' point of view, which began following a protest outside an immigration court that is located in the same building as his office.

"DHS was upset that some of my staff members were watching them grab immigrants emerging from an immigration court in the same building, a floor below. And they were upset that my staff invited some of the observers up to my office," Nadler said.

"They then came up to the office and demanded entrance. One of my staff members said, you can't come in here, you need a warrant. They said, no, we don't need a warrant, which is incorrect, and they barged in. And, in barging in, one of the officers, a very big, heavy-set fellow, pushed my aide, a very petite young woman, and they then said that she pushed back and they shackled her and took her downstairs. And she was obviously traumatized," he added.

A Homeland Security spokesperson, in contrast, told Fox news Digital that based on the incidents "FPS officers were concerned about the safety of the federal employees in the office and went to the location to ensure the safety and wellbeing of those present."

The officers then were let inside the office and ran into four people. After saying they were going to conduct a security check, the spokesperson said, "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," the statement adds. Footage of the incident shows officers saying that Nadler's staff were "harboring rioters." The staff members can be heard crying.

Following the episode Nadler issued a statement saying the officers' actions show a "deeply troubling disregard for proper legal boundaries." "If this can happen in a Member of congress's office, it can happen to anyone — and it's happening," Nadler added.