During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Wednesday, U.S. Capitol Police reported an individual was arrested for disrupting Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This incident occurred as Rubio was preparing to deliver his statement on U.S. policy regarding Venezuela.
The situation escalated when a man in the audience stood up with a sign saying “Stay Out of Venezuela” and began to shout about “war crimes.” Senator Jim Risch, who chairs the committee, was heard saying, “Okay, here we go…you know the drill; we’re going to jail.” He then mentioned the possibility of a one-year suspension from the committee for such disruptions, noting that repeat offenders might face a longer suspension.
Risch remarked, “We hope that in three years he will be able to find a more productive means of employment.” He also noted that Rubio seemed to have garnered more attention than most witnesses in the past.
Rubio humorously replied, “There’s probably going to be a couple more. Thank you for stopping the clock, but I appreciate it.” The Capitol Police underscored that protesting inside the Capitol is a violation of the law.
Before the interruption, Risch acknowledged the audience’s presence but reiterated the importance of maintaining order during the proceedings. “This is a public hearing. Any disruption can lead to arrest,” he emphasized. He also mentioned that some guests had returned after serving their suspensions, expressing hope that they had reflected on their behavior.
