Politics

GOP Rep Says Capitol Police ‘Illegally’ Investigated His Office, Staffer ‘Caught Them In The Act’

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Texas Republican Rep. Troy Nehls said Tuesday that the United States Capitol Police “illegally” entered his office as part of an alleged investigation and that one of his staffers caught them in the act.

Nehls accused Capitol Police officers of illegally entering his office twice during Thanksgiving week last year, during which they allegedly photographed sensitive legislative items.

“Upon discovering a member of my staff, special agents dressed like construction workers began to question him as to the contents of a photograph taken illegally two days earlier,” Nehls said, adding that Capitol Police “never informed myself or senior level staff of their investigation.”

While Nehls said that the reasons for their actions were “clear,” he did not give any details. He did, however, float that the investigation came in retaliation for his criticism of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the January 6 Committee and the Capitol Police itself.

In a phone interview with the Daily Caller News Foundation, Nehls said that he still did not know why officers entered his office, and criticized their plainclothes outfits and lack of transparency.

Nehls is part of Republicans’ own committee related to the Jan. 6 riot, though the committee is not officially recognized, has relatively little funding, no permanent staff and no subpoena power. He was originally named to be a GOP member on the select committee, but Republicans refused to participate after Pelosi refused to seat Reps. Jim Jordan and Jim Banks.

Nehls told Axios Monday that the group’s findings would support previous revelations that law enforcement was not adequately prepared to combat the rioters.

When reached for comment, a spokesperson for the Capitol Police pointed to a statement by Chief Thomas Manger, where he stood by the officer entering Nehls’ office and said that “no case investigation was ever initiated or conducted into the Representative or his staff.”