Legislators’ tensions are high this week after a Republican legislator nearly brought a gun to the House floor, further fueling concerns about Capitol security and whether members of Congress need protection from each other.
The renewed anxiety just two weeks after the January 6 deadly attack was sparked by Rep. Andy Harris
Andrew (Andy) Peter HarrisAn attack on America that divided Congress – and a nation Here are House Republicans who voted for Trump’s impeachment ‘I saw my life pass before my eyes’: An oral history of the Capitol attack MORE (R-Md.) When he fired a newly installed metal detector on the floor of the House with a hidden weapon, despite a long-standing ban on firearms in the chamber.
The incident came after numerous reports from other Republicans, accustomed to bypassing metal detectors on Capitol Hill, irritated by the new security measures. Some Democrats now openly express that they don’t feel safe around certain colleagues.
The rise of anger and mistrust following the attack on this month’s Capitol by Trump supporters has made some lawmakers fear that heated debates could turn violent.
“Look, the temperature is high politically now,” Rep. Jared Huffman
Jared William HuffmanScars from the attack on the Capitol permeate the inauguration of high security Confidence among lawmakers reaches its lowest point after the disturbances in the Capitol ENERGY OF THE NIGHT: The Capitol in Chaos | Trump’s Arctic refuge drilling sale earns only a fraction of the GOP forecast | EPA notes that fuel efficiency has dropped and pollution has increased for vehicles in 2019 MORE (D-Calif.) I told The Hill. “It’s crazy to trust an honor system that could allow something really tragic to happen. And I would say that it is only a matter of time before that happens. “
Rep. Kathleen Rice
Kathleen Maura RiceTrust among lawmakers reaches its lowest point after the Capitol disrupts Trump’s Georgia connection sparks a debate over criminal penalties The Georgia district attorney says she will ‘enforce the law without fear or favor’ after Trump’s call MORE (DN.Y.) said that she would never have imagined violence exploding during the plenary debate when she started serving in the Chamber in 2015. Now, she says, it’s another story.
“You can’t be afraid that the person you’re having a little argument on the floor with C-SPAN watching is going to pull out a gun and, like, shoot you,” Rice said.
“If you had said that to me six years ago, I would say: ‘Whoever is afraid of this is crazy. That would never happen. ‘ Now? Excuse. All bets are closed. It’s a totally different climate. Totally different climate. And we have to recognize that. “
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Alexandria Ocasio-CortezOcasio-Cortez says lawmakers fear colleagues using firearms in the Chamber Ocasio-Cortez spent the opening night supporting striking workers in New York Budowsky: Democracy won, Trump lost, President Biden took office MORE (DN.Y.) – who revealed he had a “close encounter” on January 6 – cited security concerns for not attending President Biden’s inauguration, saying during an interview on CNN’s “Cuomo Prime Time” that “not yet feel safe around other members of Congress. “
The metal detectors were installed last week after representatives of the first GOP term Lauren Boebert (Colorado) and Madison Cawthorn (NC) publicly discussed the possession of their weapons around the Capitol. Both were also among several House Republicans who engaged in heated rhetoric promoting President Trump
Donald TrumpMcCarthy said he told Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene that he disagreed with his impeachment articles against Biden Biden, Trudeau agrees to meet next month that Trump planned to oust AG to overturn the election results in Georgia: report MOREthe false allegations of electoral fraud before the attack on the Capitol that left five dead.
In the past, lawmakers have occasionally become violent during heated debates. Many of the physical altercations arose during the struggles for slavery in the 1800s, including the infamous caning abolitionist senator Charles Sumner in 1856 and a debate in the 1858 House plenary that led to fights between Republican Galusha Grow of Pennsylvania and Democrat Laurence Keitt of South Carolina before more than 30 lawmakers joined the fight.
Earlier this month, a fight almost broke out between lawmakers – including Harris – during the evening debate over a Republican Party challenge to the results of the Electoral College, just hours after the pro-Trump crowd ransacked the Capitol.
There are currently no punitive measures in place for lawmakers who avoid the Capitol Police while walking to the House floor. But the House is expected to vote to impose fines – $ 5,000 for a first offense, $ 10,000 for subsequent offenses – when it returns to the session during the first week of February.
Members of Congress are exempt from regulations prohibiting weapons on Capitol grounds and, until last week, from metal detectors in the complex.
Lawmakers can keep weapons in their offices or transport them – safely unloaded and packaged – to another place in the Capitol complex under one roof. 1967 Rule. But they are prohibited from bringing them into the House or Senate chambers or adjacent areas.
All employees, journalists and visitors, however, must pass through metal detectors to enter the Capitol or surrounding office buildings and may not carry firearms anywhere on the premises, unless specifically authorized.
Harris’ office suggested the gun carried by the Maryland Republican as a self-defense, saying he and his family have faced security threats recently.
“As his life and that of his family were threatened by someone who was released pending trial, for security reasons, the deputy never confirms whether he or anyone else with whom he is carrying a firearm for self-defense. As a matter of public record, he has a Maryland handgun license. And the congressman always complies with the metal and wand detectors in the house. The congressman never carried a firearm on the floor of the Chamber, ”Harris’ office said in a statement.
Lawmakers from both parties have faced an increase in threats against them since 2016. Some argue that the biggest threat to lawmakers comes from extremists who also threaten family members.
“I think the biggest threat is less about the members, frankly, and more about others who are like the lawless thugs who attacked the Capitol and those domestic terrorist groups that obviously led us to put 20,000 National Guards around the Capitol,” Said the representative. Josh Gottheimer
Joshua (Josh) Gottheimer GOP Co-President Problem Solvers Caucus says he will vote for $ 1,000 checks. House approves massive spending agreement, allowing McConnell to achieve much of what he wants in an emergency aid agreement (DN.J.).
The New Jersey Democrat is circulating a letter asking for increased security funds for members ‘offices, regular briefings by Capitol security officials and efforts to keep members’ personal information off the Internet.
It is unclear how long the National Guard troops will remain in the Capitol complex or when they will be removed at about 2.5 meters.
Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell
Impeachment trial Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellTrump begins the week of February 8. Democrats launch 14th Amendment to bar Trump from office. Biden signals that he is willing to postpone the Trump trial MORE (R-Ky.) He said on Friday that “keeping Capitol safe cannot and will not require that large numbers of uniformed troops and vast emergency fencing systems remain in place forever.”
Sen. Chris Murphy
Christopher (Chris) Scott MurphyDemocrats issue 14th amendment to bar Trump from office. Senate approves resignation for Biden Pentagon candidate, Democrats drop McConnell obstruction gambit MORE (Connecticut), the main Democrat in the Senate’s subcommittee that oversees the financing of the legislative branch, rejected the idea of installing magnetometers to enter the upper house.
“Our members so far seem to be much more responsible for the security of the building,” said Murphy.
In the meantime, some House Democrats, led by Huffman and Rice, say that magnetometers outside the House should become permanent, in addition to ending the gun exemption for lawmakers.
Both acknowledged that it may also be time to demand that lawmakers go through metal detectors when entering office buildings in the Capitol complex, like everyone else.
“Just treat members like any other member of the public that enters Capitol,” said Huffman. “You can’t have an honor system with dishonorable people who think the rules don’t apply to them.”