Democratic lawmakers are poised to revive tensions with the law enforcement community as they prepare to rehang a controversial painting on Capitol Hill that angered police with its depiction of officers as pigs — after Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter personally took down the picture last week.
(FOX)- A press release from the Congressional Black Caucus and Rep. Lacy Clay, D-Mo., whose office for months had sponsored the display of the student artwork, announced that Clay and CBC members will “rehang” the piece Tuesday morning in the Cannon Tunnel.
Clay also told the Washington Post he wants the Capitol Police to press theft charges against Hunter for removing the artwork Friday.
“He had no right to take that picture down,” Clay told the Post. “It’s thievery.”
“The rehanging of this painting for public view represents more than just protecting the rights of a student artist, it is a proud statement in defense of the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which guarantees freedom of expression to every American,” the CBC said in a news release.
Responding Tuesday on “Fox & Friends,” Hunter said: “The Capitol Police aren’t going to arrest me for taking down a picture that portrays them as pigs.”