Anna King, a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient, says three Idaho National Guard members forced her to the ground and handcuffed her outside her Washington, D.C. home on May 8 in an incident captured on camera. The ACLU and Levy Firestone Muse have filed a $3 million federal tort claim alleging severe wrist injuries that required surgery and the reactivation of PTSD. The Idaho National Guard says the troops approached her as a possible suspect in an assault two days earlier; King's attorneys call that claim baseless and say no charges have been filed.
Purple Heart Veteran Sues After Video Shows National Guard Troops Forcing Her To Ground Outside DC Home
An Army veteran was aggressively detained by National Guard troops outside her home in Washington, DC, video footage shows (ACLU District of Columbia)
A retired U.S. Army captain, Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient Anna King, has filed a federal claim after three Idaho National Guard members approached, forced her to the ground and handcuffed her outside her Washington, D.C., home on the evening of May 8. The confrontation was captured on a Ring security camera and released by the ACLU of the District of Columbia.
What the Video Shows
Ring footage roughly two minutes long shows King seated on a bench on her front porch, holding a protest sign and scrolling on her phone when three National Guard members approach. King can be heard saying, "Get away from me right now" and insisting the guardsmen had "absolutely no authority to detain me." As she attempts to enter her home, two guards grab her arms, pull her to the ground and secure her with tight handcuffs while a third appears to be on the phone.
In the video, King repeatedly cries out, "Get off of me!" and the clip shows her complaining that the handcuffs are too tight. The ACLU says the incident caused serious wrist injuries that later required surgery.
Legal Action
The ACLU of the District of Columbia, together with the law firm Levy Firestone Muse, has filed a federal tort claim against the Idaho National Guard seeking $3 million in damages. The filing invokes the Federal Tort Claims Act, which allows private citizens to seek compensation for injuries allegedly caused by federal employees' negligent or wrongful acts.
Thousands of National Guard troops were deployed to D.C. last summer to combat what President Donald Trump claimed was a crime issue (Getty)
Claims and Responses
King's lawyers say the guardsmen used "needlessly rough treatment," severely injuring her dominant hand and leaving her limited in everyday tasks such as showering and using the bathroom. The complaint also says the encounter reactivated post-traumatic stress disorder King developed after serving in Iraq.
The Idaho National Guard acknowledged awareness of the claim but declined further comment. The Guard has suggested the troops approached King because she was a suspect in an assault on a Guardsman two days earlier; King's attorneys call that allegation "baseless" and note no charges have been filed.
Context: National Guard Presence In Washington, D.C.
The three guardsmen are among roughly 5,000 National Guard personnel deployed to Washington, D.C., since last summer as part of a federal mission described as aimed at combating crime. The deployment is scheduled to continue through January 2029 and is estimated to cost approximately $1.4 billion. Studies cited by critics say the deployment had "no measurable effect" on crime even as D.C. experiences a multi-decade low in many crime categories.
Anna King, who is a Purple Heart recipient, says she does not plan to stop protesting the National Guard's presence in D.C. (ACLU District of Columbia)
While National Guard members in D.C. carry firearms, they do not have civilian arrest powers. They are authorized to detain individuals temporarily until local police arrive, a distinction central to the dispute about whether the guardsmen's actions were lawful and proportionate.
King's Perspective
King and her attorneys say she has been vocal in opposing the National Guard presence, placing signs on her front patio reading "Occupation: Troops Out" and "National Guard Stop Being So Embarrassing." In video statements shared by the ACLU, King describes ongoing physical pain, the psychological impact of the incident and renewed nightmares tied to her combat-related PTSD. She says she plans to continue protesting.
The case raises legal and civil-liberties questions about the appropriate role of armed federal troops in domestic urban settings, how detainment authority is exercised, and accountability when physical force is used against civilians—especially veterans and other vulnerable residents.
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