House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is interviewed by reporters on Feb. 5, 2021.
Republicans on the U.S. House Administration Committee asked security officials Friday (Feb. 5) to fine House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for allegedly bypassing a metal detector on her way into the chamber, in violation of rules she had set for herself.
Republican Representatives Rodney Davis, Barry Loudermilk and Bryan Steil, among others, said in a letter to House Sergeant: “Yesterday at approximately 9:59 a.m., several members witnessed the Speaker of the House enter the House without completing The Speaker of the House entered the House chamber without completing security screening yesterday morning at approximately 9:59 a.m.
What was observed is a clear violation of House Resolution 73, and you are required to enforce this fine under House Rules. Please let us know when you determine the amount of the fine.
Pelosi’s office did not respond to a request for comment. Pelosi created the rule to specifically target the small number of Republicans who have ever legally carried a firearm in the House. The fine for a first offense is $5,000.
The office of Sheriff Timothy Blodgett did not respond to a request for comment. Blodgett told The Hill that he has not received a complaint from Capitol Police about the incident.
House security officers will impose fines after receiving an unusual incident report from the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP). The unusual incident report from the Capitol Police must be attached to the fine notice sent to the member. Blodgett said in a statement to The Hill.
“Only the USCP can determine if a person has not completed a security clearance, and only the USCP has sufficient training to determine compliance with the USCP’s clearance procedures, he said.
“I have directed USCP to produce and make available, an unusual incident report for any person who has not completed a security screening. I have not received any unusual incident reports on the Speaker of the House,” he said.
However, the text of the resolution does not require USCP to provide a report in order to impose a fine, but only authorizes security officials to establish policies and procedures to implement the resolution.
Rep. Louie Gohmert (D-CA), who was himself fined $5,000 for violating the resolution, wrote on Twitter, “Why wasn’t the Speaker of the House fined for bypassing the metal detectors?
“Speaker Pelosi makes the rules. She has to follow her rules just like everyone else. Rep. Andy Biggs (D-Mich.) wrote on Twitter.
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