Issa photographs protesters from office roof

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) stood on the roof of his district office building Tuesday to photograph protesters lined up outside, a move that drew criticism from a Democratic opponent.

Mike Levin, a Democrat challenging Issa in the 2018 election, posted a picture of the congressman on the roof Tuesday afternoon, claiming he was “too afraid” to speak with his constituents.

“Yes, this is really @DarrellIssa on the roof of his district office building. Too afraid to come speak with assembled constituents below,” Levin wrote on Twitter, including a photo of Issa on the roof apparently taking pictures with his phone.

Yes, this is really @DarrellIssa on the roof of his district office building. Too afraid to come speak with assembled constituents below. pic.twitter.com/wCYRjO8Ev8

— Mike Levin (@MikeLevinCA) May 30, 2017

{mosads}Levin said that Issa came outside “for 5 minutes but refused to engage with those across the street.”

The congressman posted the photo he took from the roof view on Twitter with a caption that said he “spent the morning talking with constituents,” though Issa’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“Spent the morning talking with constituents gathered outside the office today, then popped upstairs to take a quick pic!” Issa wrote on Twitter, including the picture taken from the roof and several others taken on the ground.

Spent the morning talking with constituents gathered outside the office today, then popped upstairs to take a quick pic! pic.twitter.com/K2CFdenOIj

— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) May 30, 2017

Shortly before Issa posted his photo, a reporter from the San Diego Union-Tribune said he received an “unprompted call” from the congressman, who told him that he went up to the roof because the protesters would not speak to him.

Issa also called the reporter an “operative” for his opponents in the unsolicited phone call, according to the reporter’s account on Twitter.

.@DarrellIssa said the protesters wouldnt’ speak with him, so he went up to the roof and took pictures.

— Joshua Stewart (@jptstewart) May 30, 2017

.then @DarrellIssa called me an “operative” for his opponents, and ” It’s interesting that the paper has become as small as your words.”

— Joshua Stewart (@jptstewart) May 30, 2017

Issa, who represents parts of Orange and San Diego Counties as the representative for California’s 49^th district, will hold a town hall on Saturday morning at San Juan Hills High School. Registration for the event has reached capacity, according to the event listing.

Issa is also being challenged by Democrat Doug Applegate, whom he narrowly defeated to win reelection in last November’s vote.