House Speaker Matt Ritter, the father of two at home and leader of 151 at the state Capitol, sounded every bit the frustrated parent Friday as he felt compelled to publicly denounce a late-night video posted on social media by a first-term Democratic lawmaker, Rep. Nick Menapace of East Lyme.

In a video recorded as he exited the Capitol complex after a heated debate over curbing federal immigration agents, Menapace complained about a Republican amendment that would have established the “intentional harassment of a police officer” as a misdemeanor crime. 

“The guy who did it, he’s a police officer. He’s used his job to harass people. He’s harassed other state representatives. He’s harassed people who have run against him,” Menapace said.

Menapace offered no evidence of wrongdoing by the Republican lawmaker, Rep. Greg Howard of Stonington, in the video posted on Facebook and TikTok. Republicans rallied to Howard’s side Friday, and more than a few Democrats stopped by for a hug or pat on the back.

“It’s easy to run your mouth on social media. Go look someone in the eye and make those same accusations. If you can stand by them, then I’ll feel better about that, but be man to man about it,” Ritter said. “This is the problem with social media. Everybody’s real brave behind a camera at midnight.”

House Minority Leader Vincent J. Candelora, R-North Branford, was harsher in responding to Menapace, whom he called “a coward.”

“This is an individual that was just elected and is a coward,” Candelora said, flanked by House Republicans in a show of solidarity with Howard. “He doesn’t pick up the microphone and actually debate a bill, but rather, he resorts to TikTok, where he is not subject to rules of decorum.”

Ritter said he was unaware of complaints about Howard’s behavior — not so with Menapace. Ritter has disciplined Menapace after the lawmaker acted rudely or abusively to a committee clerk. He said he barred the lawmaker from interacting with staff for two weeks.

In a separate incident unreported publicly or to the speaker’s office, Rep. Gayle Mastrofrancesco, R-Wolcott, said Menapace told her last year that her comments wanted to make him “punch me in the face.” Menapace denied threatening her.

Menapace offered no regrets about the video. He said Howard once was called out by the House Republican leader for social media remarks about a Democratic lawmaker, Rep. Corey Paris of Stamford. Candelora had denounced threats against Paris, none coming from Howard.

“I feel as though I’m just stating what has happened,” Menapace said. “To me, this is very well documented.”

Howard, who has been police officer for 24 years, elected and reelected from a blue district, shrugged off the video. He said was unaware of it until others called him while he was commuting to the Capitol.

“I think my reputation in this building, in my community, in my life, speaks for itself,” Howard said. “So he could say what he wants. I’ve never harassed anybody. That’s not how I conduct business.”

Later, Howard made a point of saying of Menapace, “His actions are not representative of the House Democratic caucus.”

Friday was not an ideal day for Ritter to be spending time policing social media. With an adjournment deadline of midnight Wednesday, Ritter is facing daily disasters and dramas relating to lawmakers clamoring for votes on bills destined to die without their moment on the floor.

There also is the matter of the not-quite finished budget he originally planned to pass Saturday evening after action by the Senate that afternoon. There is nothing new at the Capitol about plans falling through. Every year, it seems, the Yiddish proverb comes to pass: “Man plans, God laughs.”

“This is a very difficult time of year, because everybody’s very tired. There’s a lot of emotions,” Ritter told reporters at 10 a.m., shortly before word spread widely about Menapace’s TikTok. “There’s internal disagreements in caucuses. There’s external disagreements.”

A sweeping labor bill deemed too controversial for a vote Monday night was passed on an overwhelming bipartisan vote Tuesday after negotiations and revisions, the product of what Ritter said was a culture of a chamber unafraid to make constructive compromise.

“There’s the labor bill, and you see the culture and the relationships. And then 12 hours later …”

The mood changed like the weather in New England. Ritter ended the immigration agent debate without a vote at 11 p.m. Thursday. He read the room. Tempers flared. He saw a chamber ready to argue well into the wee hours of Friday. Some members of his Democratic caucus wanted just that.

Ritter consulted with House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, D-East Hartford, and Candelora. They made the call to go home and come back fresh. 

On Friday morning, Rojas said they would resume the debate on the immigration bill. He predicted passage would come with just an hour of debate. He was correct.

But Ritter also noted that the path forward was not assured. People still were tired, tempers frayed.

“This place is one comment, one email away from from shutting down,” Ritter told reporters, speaking before the Menapace video was widely known.

“Today is a is going to be a very careful day — very, very careful,” Ritter said. “Everything is very delicate right now.”