Protester Attacks Heritage Foundation Security With Pepper Spray, Is Arrested

Capitol Police arrested a man outside The Heritage Foundation after he allegedly sprayed two security personnel with pepper spray.

The incident occurred Wednesday morning outside the conservative policy organization, located on a busy thoroughfare just blocks from the U.S. Capitol. “Heritage believes in the First Amendment and respects American citizens’ right to disagree and to protest peacefully,” said Eric Korsvall, chief operating officer at The Heritage Foundation. “However, physical threats, attacks, and violence cross the line. Full stop.”

“The assault on two of our security guards this morning by a far-left agitator protesting at Heritage since Sunday is unacceptable and not tolerated. The safety of our staff, guests, and security team is non-negotiable,” Korsvall added.

Capitol Police identified the suspect as Nathaniel Craig Wetter Taylor of Champaign, Illinois, according to The Heritage Foundation. He was charged with two counts of assault on a police officer. Heritage security officers are special police officers in the District of Columbia.

Capitol Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The suspect is expected to appear before a judge Thursday morning. The office of Jeanine Pirro, interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., will make the decision on whether to prosecute. That office did not immediately respond to request for comment.

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“Ironically, the very protesters spewing hate at Heritage are often the same ones proudly displaying the virtue-signaling ‘Hate has no home here’ signs,” Korsvall said. “Fortunately, the only ‘home’ the assailant will see tonight is a jail cell as he awaits a hearing. We call on the U.S. Attorney to prosecute this assailant for his unlawful behavior.”

The man was wearing a red hat, similar in appearance to a “Make America Great Again” hat. But the hat said “Not Great.”

Security video of the incident shows him trying to enter the front door of The Heritage Foundation, rather than standing on the public sidewalk near the front entrance. When security attempted to move him to the sidewalk, he shot them in the eyes with pepper spray.

The incident comes at a time of increased violence, including the Los Angeles riots, aimed at the Right.

Christian Lasval, social media manager for The Heritage Foundation, saw the incident as he was coming into work and called 911.

“It was surprising to me that he decided to attack our officers with pepper spray. I have not seen that before,” Lasval told The Daily Signal. “Typically, if protesters are making some kind of commotion, when we ask them to get off the property or get on the sidewalk, it’s not a problem.”

“This was the first time I’ve ever seen somebody be that adamant about resisting getting on public property, and attacking our officers with pepper spray.”

Footage posted on Bluesky appears to show Wetter protesting at a side entrance to The Heritage Foundation Monday, with other protesters. In the video, protesters shout at Heritage security staff, calling them “Nazis” and swearing at them. On both Sunday and Monday, raucous protesters were outside The Heritage Foundation.

Heritage Foundation studio fellow Josef von Spakovsky was a witness and made a statement to police.

“I went downstairs to see if they needed assistance. When I came down, the situation was already taken care of, so I was helping man the door,” von Spakovsky said. “But I heard the man calling Heritage Nazis and fascists.”