NEW YORK – Rep. Peter King took part in a raid in Brooklyn Monday, tagging along with U.S. Marshals as they arrested a fugitive.
A videographer came along for the occasion, and entered the private residence during the raid. That violates federal policy – only people who are U.S. Marshals employees or members of the task force can film inside a private residence during a raid.
The video was originally posted to King’s website. King is chairman of the Homeland Security Committee. The website Talking Points Memo noticed the video, and said that they made an inquiry with King’s office about it. After they asked about it, Talking Points Memo says the original video, which was 8:07, was pulled down. An edited version, running 7:10, was put up in its place.
Both of those videos have since been taken down from King’s page.
Talking Points Memo has a copy of the original video.
At the start of the video, King explains that he’ll be riding along with Lenny DePaul, who is featured on the television show “Manhunters.” King is shown wearing a windbreaker with a shield symbol on the left side and “police” on the back. DePaul is shown briefing King on the fugitive’s rap sheet and they ride up to the location in Brooklyn.
The members of the task force are all wearing bullet-proof vests or jackets that clearly mark them as police or U.S. Marshal.
The officers then kick down a door to effect the raid. Officers are shown restraining a man and talking to a woman. The video appears to be shot inside the apartment.
At the end of the video, King explains that the raid “went perfectly,” adding the fugitive had a pistol and narcotics when he was found.
The U.S. Marshals told Talking Points Memo they are investigating the video.
“Congressman King was invited by the U.S. Marshals to accompany them in a series of raids and everything was done in compliance with their procedures,” King’s spokesman Kevin Fogarty told the Wall Street Journal.
King insists he didn’t do anything wrong.
“My understanding is anytime somebody makes a complaint, they always looks into it and that’s what this is all about but everything I did was in full compliance with what the marshals set out as the proper procedures.
I’m not aware there’s any concern with the U.S. Marshals because the U.S. Marhals are there the entire time on Monday and I spoke with them before, during, and after the raid,” King told WCBS 880′s Steve Scott on Wednesday. “I think what you have is you have some media group which is raising some objections and that’s the extent of it. Nobody in the Marshals at all has raised any objections with me then or since.”
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