Rep. Lauren Boebert – who promised to carry her Glock in Washington, DC, and was reprimanded by the city’s chief of police for saying so – caused a minor incident at a security stop at the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday night.
The Republican Rifle allegedly tried to pass through newly installed metal detectors, which sounded like her. She then refused to hand over her purse to the Capitol Police, who in turn refused to let her into the Chamber chambers, according to reporters at the scene.
It is not clear how the matter was resolved. Reporters saw Boebert enter the Chamber to vote, but could not confirm whether she was allowed to pass with her purse. Boebert’s office did not respond to a request for comment by answering that question.
Members of Congress can carry weapons in other parts of the Capitol complex, but not in the House and Senate. Boebert suggested on Twitter on Tuesday that she had a gun that night.
“I am legally authorized to carry my firearm in Washington, DC, and inside the Capitol complex,” said Boebert in a tweet about the incident. “Metal detectors outside the Chamber would not have prevented the violence we saw last week – it is just another political ploy by Mayor (Nancy) Pelosi.”
Boebert’s polite confrontation with the police came less than a week after protesters invaded the United States Capitol, killing an officer. In the days since, the congresswoman has repeatedly offered her condolences and thanks to the Capitol Police.
“Thanks to the brave men and women in our police community, especially the US Capitol Police, who keep us safe,” she tweeted on Tuesday afternoon, two hours before she refused to comply with police orders.