Politics

Video clip circulates showing Young grabbing congressional staffer

A video emerged Thursday afternoon in which U.S. Rep. Don Young is seen grabbing the arm of a congressional staffer, who reacts in apparent pain or surprise.

The Vine video clip was posted on NBC News producer Frank Thorp's Twitter feed around 2 p.m. Alaska time. Per the Twitter posting, the video shows Young as he "grabs staffer's arm for trying to stop him from entering in-progress GOP (meeting) through front door."

Matt Shuckerow, a spokesperson for Young, said Thursday afternoon that "my understanding from the video is yes, it was a staffer who was essentially directing members of Congress."

Shuckerow said the man in the video is not part of the Alaska congressman's staff.

Young was "meeting with his colleagues to discuss the ongoing situation on the southern border and the legislation to address that," on Thursday afternoon, Shuckerow said.

Shuckerow followed up shortly afterward with a statement from Young:

"While returning to the GOP conference meeting to discuss the ongoing situation on our southern border, I was caught off guard by an unidentified individual who was physically blocking me from reentering the room. Regardless, my reaction was wrong and I should have never placed my hands on the young man."

The Vine clip isn't the only time Young has been caught on camera this summer behaving badly. Earlier this summer, he drew attention for making faces on the House floor as a colleague paid tribute to a fallen Marine, antics that were captured by C-SPAN cameras.

Laurel Andrews

Laurel Andrews was a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News, Alaska Dispatch News and Alaska Dispatch. She left the ADN in October 2018.

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