A House Republican on Friday personally removed a controversial painting that depicts police officers as feral pigs in a hallway connecting to the Capitol.

Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) stripped the painting, which depicts a confrontation between police and African-Americans, off the wall of a highly trafficked tunnel between the Capitol and two House office buildings Friday morning, spokesman Joe Kasper told The Hill.

The painting had been displayed near a Capitol Police screening checkpoint and had drawn ire from law enforcement organizations offended by the depiction.

It was displayed as part of an annual art competition sponsored by House members' offices. Rep. Lacy Clay's (D-Mo.) office awarded it a first place prize last summer, which grants it a spot in the Capitol complex that hundreds of lawmakers, staff and visitors pass by each day.

Hunter, an Iraq War veteran and early supporter of President-elect Donald Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE, returned the painting to Clay's office on Friday morning. Clay's office confirmed the account but did not make the lawmaker available for comment.

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The California Republican was the subject of an Office of Congressional Ethics investigation after reports emerged that he'd used campaign funds to cover personal expenses, including vacations and oral surgery.

A spokesman for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) suggested Hunter would regret the move while referencing reports earlier this week that the chamber's ethics watchdog found Hunter had used taxpayer funds to pay for his pet rabbit's airfare.

"Congressman Hunter will soon realize that he’s fallen down more than one rabbit hole," Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill said.

Clay, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, represents the town of Ferguson, Mo., where a white police officer shot an unarmed black teenager in 2014, which sparked nationwide protests about police brutality toward African-Americans.

The painting came up during a House GOP conference meeting Friday morning, according to lawmakers in attendance.

Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.) expressed frustrations about the painting, lawmakers told The Hill, saying Capitol Police and other law enforcement officers from around the country are offended by it.

Speaker Paul Ryan Paul Davis RyanAt indoor rally, Pence says election runs through Wisconsin Juan Williams: Breaking down the debates Peterson faces fight of his career in deep-red Minnesota district MORE’s (R-Wis.) office had no immediate comment. A reporter had asked Ryan about the painting during a press conference on Thursday but the Speaker said he wasn’t familiar with it or the controversy.

Several police organizations urged Ryan in a letter this week to take down the painting.

“Speaker Ryan, please stand up for those of us in law enforcement and immediately remove this stain from our beloved Capitol and send a message that you support the men and women of law enforcement over those that perpetrate lies about our profession,” they wrote.

The artwork shows an urban street filled with black protesters, two of whom are holding signs with the words “History” and “Racism Kills.”

A young black man behind bars hovers in the skyline behind the protesters, and another black man is stretched on a crucifix in the foreground.

The most eye-grabbing part of the painting is the scene of two police-officers-as-feral-pigs with their guns drawn at a protester depicted as a black panther.

Hundreds of pieces of artwork, mostly paintings and photographs, awarded prizes in the annual art competition are hung in the tunnel linking the Cannon and Longworth House office buildings for one year.

While Clay declined comment on Friday, he lavished praise on the artwork last year after awarding it a prize in the competition.

Clay described it as “the most creative expression that I’ve witnessed over the last 16 years,” according to the St. Louis American.

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee Sheila Jackson LeeLawmakers press CDC for guidance on celebrating Halloween during pandemic Sharpton, police reform take center stage at National Mall Sheila Jackson Lee presses Congress to pass reparations bill at DC march MORE (D-Texas), a Black Caucus member, looked incredulous Friday when informed of the controversy.

"Was Lacy Clay there?" she asked. When told Hunter unilaterally removed the painting, Jackson Lee made a sound of disbelief and shook her head.

"It is protected by the freedom of speech and expression," she said.

Scott Wong contributed. Last updated at 3:03 p.m.