Republican representatives Andrew Clyde of Georgia and Louie Gohmert of Texas were fined $ 5,000 for not following the new security protocols. The fines, which aim to punish members who fail to complete security screening before entering the House floor, will be deducted from members’ salaries by the managing director, according to the new rule approved on Tuesday. A second offense will result in a $ 10,000 fine.
Clyde refused to pass the metal detectors when he entered the Chamber floor, CNN learned, while Gohmert left the Chamber floor to go to the bathroom and did not stop to be examined a second time.
Gohmert told CNN that he left the House floor on Thursday night to go to the bathroom and did not think he would have to be examined to return to the floor.
“I passed the metal detector perfectly correctly. And as I have been doing for weeks, since the metal detectors are here, I was about to speak, so I came to the bathroom, and I was never swept or anything because they can see you come in and see you leave. And they said, because I didn’t stop and I was cheated, I went and talked. They made it look like I avoided the metal detectors, “Gohmert told CNN.
“I have fulfilled this completely. And then, suddenly, someone made the arbitrary and capricious decision to start making mistakes when they saw you go to the bathroom.”
Gohmert, who said he did not receive the fine until Friday morning, told CNN he will appeal, but has not yet spoken to the office of Mayor Nancy Pelosi.
CNN contacted Clyde’s office, but so far has received no response.