A staffer for U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler (R-NY) was placed in handcuffs and detained by federal agents for allegedly sheltering rioters inside the longtime congressman’s Manhattan office.

A DHS spokesperson confirmed that the staff member was detained after agents responded to reports of anti-ICE protesters inside the congressman’s office. Footage of the incident, which was first obtained by Gothamist, showed a federal agent restraining an employee while another Nadler staffer blocked the door and demanded a warrant.

“I’m a federal officer, we’re here checking on something,” the DHS agent said to the employee standing in the doorway. “We have the right to check. You are harboring rioters in the office,” he added in a heated back-and-forth before the staffer eventually relented and granted him access to a back office.

Federal Protective Service officers went to the congressman’s office to conduct a security check after receiving reports that protesters were hiding inside, DHS told the New York Post. “Based on earlier incidents in a nearby facility, FPS officers were concerned about the safety of the federal employees in the office and went to the location to ensure the safety and wellbeing of those present,” the DHS spokesperson added.

One female staffer was detained after she “aggressively” confronted agents and blocked the door after they explained the reason for their visit. “The officers then detained the individual in the hallway for the purpose of completing the security check,” DHS said.

The aide was eventually released after the tense standoff, which reportedly erupted when a Nadler staffer invited two advocates monitoring ICE activity at the courthouse into the office.

Nadler lashed out at the Trump Administration in a statement to the New York Times, referring to them as “fascists.”

“The Trump administration is trying to intimidate members of Congress,” he said. “They’re behaving like fascists. We have to fight them. We don’t want to be a fascist country.”

The incident comes as both DHS and the Department of Justice have taken a hardline stance against protesters and activists who attempt to obstruct or intimidate federal agents while they carry out immigration enforcement operations.

On May 13, DHS announced that two individuals in Los Angeles had been charged with criminal conspiracy offenses related to impeding an officer. The arrests were made after the individuals attempted to prevent federal agents from conducting operations against a known human smuggler.