Republicans defy metal detectors as Capitol security ramps up

Allan Smith
Updated ·1 min read

House Republicans on Wednesday defied the newly installed metal detectors at the entrance to the chamber for the second day in a row ahead of the vote on whether to impeach President Donald Trump.

Matt Fuller, a reporter for HuffPost, recorded at least 12 GOP lawmakers either side-stepping the metal detectors or setting them off and continuing on to the House floor. They included Reps. Virginia Foxx of North Carolina, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma and Louie Gohmert of Texas.

Security has ramped up around the Capitol after last week's deadly riot. Tens of thousands of armed National Guardsmen were expected in D.C. amid the increased threats surrounding President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration next week. Many of the soldiers slept on the Capitol floor overnight.

Image: U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) goes through a new metal detector to enter the House floor in Washington (Jonathan Ernst / Reuters)
Image: U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) goes through a new metal detector to enter the House floor in Washington (Jonathan Ernst / Reuters)

Ahead of voting Tuesday to pass a resolution calling on Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump, the House put in place new security measures that included the metal detectors and instituting fines for members who do not wear masks on the House floor. 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 complying with police at those checkpoints or lamenting the new rule.

"This is bulls---," Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill., told the officers at the door.