A group of House Republicans wasted no time chasing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday for allegedly violating the new security measures she pushed for them to pass earlier this week.
Republican Party lawmakers on the House Administration Committee sent a letter to Acting Sergeant-in-Arms Timothy Blodgett, requesting that she receive the $ 5,000 fine recently implemented for failing to complete a security screening before entering the House floor.
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“Yesterday, at approximately 9:59 am, several members watched the mayor enter the town hall without completing the security screening,” the Republicans wrote on Friday in a letter obtained by Fox News.
“What was observed was a clear violation of Resolution 73 of the House and you are required by the House Rules to impose this fine. Please inform us as soon as the fine is assessed,” they continued. “We expect a quick response to this consultation.”
The House passed a measure on Tuesday requiring all members to wear magnetometers that the Capitol police lifted out of the House chamber after the Capitol rebellion last month.
Several Republican lawmakers, including deputies Lauren Boebert of Colorado and Louie Gohmert of Texas, flatly refused to pass through metal detectors before entering the chamber – prompting Pelosi to add a penalty for non-compliance.
Lawmakers now receive a $ 5,000 fine the first time they violate the new security protocols, followed by a $ 10,000 fine for each additional violation.
Pelosi did not provide a comment, instead referring Fox News to Blodgett’s letter of reply.
Blodgett informed members of the Republican Party committee that he had not yet received a complaint from the Capitol Police about Pelosi’s alleged violation – the newly established procedure required for the incumbent weapons sergeant to issue a fine.
“The house sergeant of arms applies the fine after receiving an unusual occurrence report from the United States Capitol Police (USCP),” he explained. “An unusual incident report from the Capitol Police is attached to the document sent to the member stating 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 the USCP screening procedures,” continued Blodgett. “I did not receive any unusual incident reports from the USCP with respect to the mayor,” he added.
Republicans rejected the new security measures, saying the threat came from outside forces, not from other members – a sentiment that Democratic lawmakers vehemently rejected.
Republican Party representatives Andrew Clyde of Georgia and Gohmert were fined for avoiding the new selection process on Friday.
Gohmert said he would contest the fine, saying he went through the metal detector and left to go to the bathroom through a side door before it was needed on the floor of the Chamber.
Although it was not selected again before returning to the chamber.
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“Unlike the Godfather movie, there are no bathrooms with tanks where someone can hide a gun, so my re-entry into the House should have been a problem,” said the Texas Republican in a statement on Friday.
“I will appeal the fine and take whatever measures are necessary, especially considering that this policy is unconstitutional,” he added.
Chad Pergram of Fox News contributed to this report.