A small group of demonstrators known as Code Pink carried large banners asking for the arrest of former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who was testifying at the time along with former secretaries Madeleine Albright and George P. Shultz.
“Arrest Henry Kissinger for war crimes!” the protesters chanted.
“The committee will stand in recess until the Capitol police can escort [the protesters],” McCain says as the chant goes on.
A few moments pass without police intervention.
“Could I, uh, could I ask our Capitol Police to help restore order here?”
More moments pass.
“Can someone find out where the Capitol Police is?”
As police, at last, order protesters to take a seat, the senator calls the demonstration “disgraceful,” “outrageous,” and “despicable,” respectively.
As one of the protesters stands, McCain says “you’re going to have to shut up, or I’m going to have you arrested,” and again asks for the police.
As a protester storms out with his coat flung over his shoulder, McCain seems satisfied with his victory.
“Get out of here, you low-life scum,” he says, looking like a curmudgeonly neighbor from “Dennis the Menace,” and promptly apologizes to Dr. Kissinger, who didn’t seem particularly phased.
Kissinger, the 91-year-old Nobel Prize winner, was present to “provide a perspective on global challenges to national security,” according to the Washington Post.
