Eighty people were arrested at the U.S. Capitol complex Monday as protesters occupied the offices of various U.S. House and Senate members, demonstrating against the GOP effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
Protesters were carried out of the rooms and hallways in or near the offices of Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.). The Senate returned Monday from a recess, during which many lawmakers had also faced protesters in their home states.
A group of demonstrators tried pushing through the door and into a waiting area outside of House Speaker Paul Ryan's office, according to NBC News. A staffer tried to keep them out, and there was a sign on the door that read "only scheduled appointments will be admitted."
Capitol Police officers carried the protesters away from 13 different locations in the House and Senate Office Buildings, according to a statement from police. Twenty-one people were arrested in the House Office Building, and 59 people were arrested from the Senate Office Building.
Capitol Police said those arrested would be charged under a D.C. law for crowding, obstructing or incommoding.
