The U.S. Capitol Police launched an investigation after House Democrats alleged their offices were vandalized on the Fourth of July.
Rep. Brad Scheider of Illinois, one of the staunchest pro-Israel members of the House Democratic caucus, posted a photo on X of printouts depicting Israeli hostages being held by Hamas strewn throughout a hallway at the Cannon House office building.
“Yesterday, my Capitol Hill office was vandalized in a vile act of hate when posters of the more than 100 people still being held hostage in Gaza – including eight Americans – were ripped from the walls, shredded and thrown across the hallway,” Schneider, who is Jewish, wrote on Friday.
“This would be a shameful act on any day, but especially on the Fourth of July, our nation’s Independence Day. Sadly, this is just one of many hateful and un-American acts that have taken place across the country on a day that celebrates freedom and democracy.”
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Rep. Brad Schneider said a poster of Israeli hostages outside his office had been torn down. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
Schneider also noted that last weekend, dozens of anti-Israel protesters showed up at his home at around 2:30 a.m. “beating drums, blowing trumpets and shouting anti-Semitic slogans.”
“These actions do not advance peace,” he wrote to X. “Instead, they play into Hamas terrorists’ hands and allow them to continue holding hostage not only those they kidnapped from Israel, but all civilians in Gaza.”
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“We are aware of and investigating the incident,” U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement. “To protect our investigation, we cannot provide any further information at this time.”
Pro-Israel Democrats have faced fierce backlash from the party’s progressive wing for their support of Israel.
The Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack in southern Israel and the Israeli government’s response, including its invasion of Gaza, have revealed stark rifts on the left, with progressives increasingly attacking traditional Democrats who want to maintain ties with Israel’s conservative government.
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Members of the US Capitol Police attempt to remove protesters from the Democratic National Committee headquarters during a demonstration against the war between Israel and Hamas on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on November 15, 2023. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
In February, another Jewish Democrat in Congress, Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.), had his Brooklyn office defaced with what appeared to be red paint. New York Post.
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A month earlier, protesters had tried to force their way into the district office of New York Rep. Pat Ryan, but staff inside the office had blocked the doors, according to Jewish Insider.
Protesters calling for a ceasefire also held a tense demonstration outside the Democratic National Committee headquarters in November, clashing with police while Democratic elected leaders were inside the Capitol.
Fox News’ Chad Pergram contributed to this report.
