Nancy Pelosi must pay $5,000 for violating new House security measures she pushed to pass, say GOP lawmakers
Only days after erecting metal detectors outside the House of Representatives in the wake of the January 6 Capitol riots, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is being slammed by GOP lawmakers for allegedly breaking the new security measures, which she announced on Wednesday, February 3. Members of the Republic party in a letter to Acting Sergeant-at-Arms Timothy Blodgett have reportedly demanded a $5,000 fine to be imposed against Pelosi for not completing the screening before entering the House floor.
The letter by Republicans obtained by Fox News reads, "Yesterday, at approximately 9:59 am, multiple members observed the Speaker of the House entering the House Chamber without completing security screening. What was observed was a clear violation of House Resolution 73 and you are required by House Rules to impose this fine. Please inform us once the fine has been assessed. We look forward to a prompt response to this inquiry."
The measure passed by Pelosi requires all the members to pass through the metal detectors and those who fail to comply with it will be fined $5,000 the first time followed by $10,000 for each additional violation.
According to Reuters, Pelosi said that “many House Republicans have ‘disrespected’ the 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 further added that the “tragic step is necessary, but the Chamber of the People’s House must and will be safe.”
Although the GOP lawmakers have claimed that Pelosi violated the security measures and that she needs to pay the fine, Blodgett reportedly told the committee that he hasn’t received a complaint by the Capitol Police with regard to the same.
He told in a statement, “House Sergeant at Arms imposes the fine after receiving an unusual occurrence report from the United States Capitol Police (USCP). An unusual incident report from the Capitol Police is appended to the document sent to the Member providing notice of the fine.”
“Only the USCP can determine whether an individual has failed to complete security screening as only the USCP has sufficient training to determine compliance with USCP screening procedures," Blodgett continued. "I have not received any unusual incident report from the USCP concerning the Speaker of the House," he added further.
Meanwhile, the Republicans have reportedly dismissed the new security measures, claiming the “threat is from external forces, not fellow members.” GOP Reps. Louie Gohmert of Texas and Andrew Clyde of Georgia are the first two members to be fined for not following the House’s new rules.
But, Gohmert claimed that he passed through the metal detector and left to use the bathroom through a “side door” before he entered the house. He said, “Unlike in the movie 'The Godfather,' there are no toilets with tanks where one could hide a gun, so my reentry onto the House floor should have been a non-issue. I will be appealing the fine and taking whatever action is necessary, especially considering this policy is unconstitutional.”