Several Republican lawmakers are defying the newly installed metal detectors in the House of Representatives, so House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is looking to mandate fines.
There are metal detectors near the entrance of the House floor. This follows after the riot that broke out last Wednesday when Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol.
In a statement on Wednesday evening, the House speaker announced that on Jan. 21 the House will vote on a rule change that would mandate fines for lawmakers who do not comply with the new screening protocols.
Pelosi slammed Republican lawmakers who have “disrespected” U.S. Capitol Police “by verbally abusing them and refusing to adhere to basic precautions keeping members of our Congressional community, including the Capitol Police, safe.”
She then announced the change that will be voted on would fine lawmakers $5,000 on the first offense and $10,000 for the second offense:
“The House will soon move forward with a rule change imposing fines on those who refuse to abide by these protections. The fine for the first offense will be $5,000 and $10,000 for the second offense. The fines will be deducted directly from Members’ salaries by the Chief Administrative Officer.
“It is tragic that this step is necessary, but the Chamber of the People’s House must and will be safe,” Pelosi added.
BOOM: US House Speaker announces Members who bypass the new metal detector near House Chamber will pay $5,000 fine. ($10,000 for second offense) pic.twitter.com/8R3QZ9mjAz
— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) January 14, 2021
However, both Democratic and Republican members have expressed frustration with the long lines due to the metal detectors.
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) called the metal detectors the “stupidest thing” when walking through one, according to CNN. He also said, “This is crap right here. You can put that down.”
Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) sidestepped “the magnetometer, shaking his head and waving off the police,” HuffPost’s Matt Fuller reported.
According to Fuller, at least 12 House Republicans either side-stepped the metal detectors or set it off and proceeded to walk on to the House floor.
Rep. Filemon Vela (D-Texas) expressed annoyance to CNN of the metal detectors, “I’m more likely to die of Covid because I got it from a colleague than I am to die because a colleague shoots me.”
Update: Capitol Police added tables to block Republicans from walking around new metal detector
— Steven Nelson (@stevennelson10) January 13, 2021
Pelosi's office asked cops to make it physically impossible to evade machine en route to House floor pic.twitter.com/35qKfys2cC
https://twitter.com/AlexThomas/status/1349382922357387270
https://twitter.com/AlexThomas/status/1349387031277924352
“On behalf of the House, I express my deepest gratitude to the U.S. Capitol Police for the valor that they showed during the deadly insurrection on the Capitol, as they protected the lives of the staff and the Congress,” Pelosi wrote in her statement.