Politics

GOP lawmakers dodge metal detectors added after Capitol riots, blast them as an ‘atrocity’

Rep. Lauren Boebert. Katherine Frey / The Washington Post, File

January 13, 2021

When Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., walked on Tuesday through new metal detectors installed after the Capitol riots, the machines started beeping. But Boebert, who had carried her bag with her through the magnetometers, refused to hand it over. Soon, she was in a standoff with police.

The scene, first chronicled by CNN Congressional reporter Ryan Nobles, was one of many tense interactions between GOP House members and Capitol police over the new security measures.

Some refused to go through the detectors. Others pushed past police after setting off the devices. One legislator even took to the House floor to call the measures “an atrocity.”

The complaints left Democrats fuming that Republicans were more concerned about basic security changes than investigating their party’s role in instigating the riot that necessitated the measures.

“Do these people not understand that literally everyone else has to go through metal detectors to get in here?” tweeted Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va. “Average people do not get to bring guns into the United States Capitol in normal times. Get over yourselves.”

Do these people not understand that literally everyone else has to go through metal detectors to get in here? Average people do not get to bring guns into the United States Capitol in normal times. Get over yourselves

— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) January 13, 2021

The metal detector protests were the latest act of defiance by a GOP faction that supported President Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the election results based on false claims of mass election fraud, a baseless allegation that helped fuel the insurrection at the Capitol last Wednesday.

Boebert, who has also faced criticism for tweeting about the location of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., during the riot, is a fervent gun-rights activist who pledged to carry her Glock on the grounds of the Capitol and in Washington.

Later on Tuesday night, Boebert defended her actions in a tweet.

“I am legally permitted to carry my firearm in Washington, D.C. and within the Capitol complex,” she wrote. “Metal detectors outside of the House would not have stopped the violence we saw last week – it’s just another political stunt by Speaker Pelosi.”

I am legally permitted to carry my firearm in Washington, D.C. and within the Capitol complex.

Metal detectors outside of the House would not have stopped the violence we saw last week — it’s just another political stunt by Speaker Pelosi.

— Rep. Lauren Boebert (@RepBoebert) January 13, 2021

But in a letter to lawmakers earlier on Tuesday informing them of the magnetometers, acting House sergeant at arms Timothy Blodgett reminded members that “pursuant to the firearms regulations that Members received on Opening Day, firearms are restricted to a Member’s Office.”

“Failure to complete screening or the carrying of prohibited items could result in denial of access to the Chamber,” Blodgett wrote.

Still, a group of GOP lawmakers ignored the new security measures. Matt Fuller, a HuffPost reporter, tweeted that he witnessed about a dozen Republicans walk around the magnetometer, including Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, and Rep. Randy Weber, R-Texas. A handful barreled through, even if they set off the alarm, he reported.

Just watched about 10 Republicans walk around the magnetometer.

Didn’t see them all, but among the group was Ralph Northham and Scott Perry.

Jeff Duncan bypassed the metal detector right before them.

— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) January 13, 2021

Beyer said he also noticed GOP members trying to skirt the new rules, pointing to Rep. Van Taylor, R-Texas.

“Rep. Van Taylor is in front of me as I’m trying to go in to vote, refusing to pass through a metal detector and arguing with U.S. Capitol Police officers about it,” Beyer said in a tweet.

Rep. Van Taylor is in front of me as I’m trying to go in to vote, refusing to pass through a metal detector and arguing with U.S. Capitol Police officers about it

— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) January 13, 2021

Some lawmakers reportedly grew combative with Capitol police. Rep. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., argued that security “cannot stop me,” and Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., cried out “I was physically restrained!” CNN’s Manu Raju tweeted.

House GOP furious at new mags outside the chamber. Reps. Markwayne Mullin and Steve Womack erupted at Capitol Police as they were forced to go through the mags. Womack shouted “I was physically restrained!” And Mullin said “it’s my constitutional right” and “they cannot stop me

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 13, 2021

Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz., said in a tweet that Capitol police were treating lawmakers “like criminals.”

″We now live in Pelosi’s communist America!” she wrote.

For members of Congress to enter the floor of the U.S. House, we now have to go through intense security measures, on top of the security we already go through. These new provisions include searches and being wanded like criminals. We now live in Pelosi’s communist America!

— Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (@RepDLesko) January 13, 2021

Rep. Steve Scalise, the No. 2 Republican, told me that the situation is “untenable” because it “impedes the ability of members to come and vote. This is our job.” These are the lines pic.twitter.com/Z6WP9ZXmC0

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 13, 2021

On the House floor, Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., blasted the metal detectors, calling them an “atrocity” and “appalling.”

“Take note America,” Steube said. “This is what you have to look forward to in the Joe Biden administration.”

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, also slammed the new security rules, claiming that they restricted his constitutional rights.

Some GOP lawmakers also turned their ire on new rules that level fines against members who fail to wear a mask.

Rep. Tom McClintock, R-N.Y., and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., wore masks with protest messages, with McClintock’s reading “This Mask Is USELESS” and Greene’s bearing the phrase “MOLON LABE,” a Greek term that translates to “come and take [them].” The phrase is known to be a rallying cry for the alt-right.

Democratic House members defended the new security measures, noting that metal detectors are hardly unusual in most Americans’ daily life.

“Now they know how HS students in my district feel,” Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., tweeted. “Y’all brought this on yourselves.”

Just had to go through a metal detector before entering the House floor. Some colleagues are frustrated (guess which ones) by this requirement. Now they know how HS students in my district feel. Suck it up buttercups. Y’all brought this on yourselves.

— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) January 13, 2021

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The Washington Post’s Karoun Demirjian and Felicia Sonmez contributed to this report.