A Department of Homeland Security official took to X on Friday afternoon to deny that a Democratic member of Congress had been pepper-sprayed by immigration agents — but her explanation of what really happened was less than convincing to a legal expert.
Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), who became a focus of controversy as House Republican leadership refused to swear her in for a month after she won a special election to replace her deceased father, posted a video earlier in the day, saying, "ICE just conducted a raid by Taco Giro in Tucson — a small mom-and-pop restaurant that has served our community for years. When I presented myself as a Member of Congress asking for more information, I was pushed-aside and pepper sprayed."
Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin posted a response shortly thereafter.
"If her claims were true, this would be a medical marvel. But they’re not true. She wasn’t pepper sprayed," wrote McLaughlin. "She was in the vicinity of someone who *was* pepper sprayed as they were obstructing and assaulting law enforcement. In fact, 2 law enforcement officers were seriously injured by this mob that @Rep_Grijalva joined. Presenting one’s self as a 'Member of Congress' doesn’t give you the right to obstruct law enforcement. More information forthcoming."
But as American Immigration Council fellow Aaron Reichlin-Melnick noted, McLaughlin's denial wasn't very meaningful.
"In which @TriciaOhio claims that someone getting pepper spray on them (because someone next to them was hit with pepper spray) is not the same as being pepper sprayed," he wrote.