House Republicans on Wednesday challenged the newly installed metal detectors at the entrance to the chamber for the second consecutive day before the vote on impeachment for President Donald Trump.
Matt Fuller, a reporter for HuffPost, registered at least 12 GOP lawmakers avoiding metal detectors or firing them and continuing to the floor of the Chamber. They included representatives Virginia Foxx of North Carolina, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma and Louie Gohmert of Texas.
Security has increased around the Capitol after last week’s deadly uproar. Tens of thousands of armed national guards were expected in DC amid rising threats around President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration next week. Many of the soldiers slept on the Capitol floor during the night.
Prior to Tuesday’s vote to pass a resolution asking Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump, the House implemented new security measures that included metal detectors and imposed fines for members who do not wear masks on plenary. Firearms are restricted to a member’s office.
Republican House members, including Gohmert, Steve Scalise Louisiana, Steve Womack Arkansas and Lauren Boebert of Colorado, among others, were seen not obeying the police at these checkpoints or lamenting the new rule.
“This is bulls —“, Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill., Told officers at the door.
