Tension flares between House Republicans, Capitol Police over metal detectors

Tension flares between House Republicans, Capitol Police over metal detectors

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Tensions flared up Tuesday night between a handful of House Republicans and Capitol police over new metal detectors placed outside the living room in the wake of the Capitol attack.

Lawmakers were heard by reporters complaining about the detectives and the riots against Democrats when they tried to enter the House to vote, saying they had not been consulted by the Democratic leadership on the decision to install the devices.

“You are taking valuable resources completely away from where it should be, and you have done so without any consultation with the minority,” Rep. Rodney DavisRodney Lee DavisGOP lawmakers say Trump takes responsibility for Capitol riot The Hill’s Morning Report – A dark day as Trump embraces ‘special’ rioters McMorris Rodgers drives vacant chair over Democrat’s personal vote after COVID diagnosis MORE (R-Ill.) Shout at House Majority Leader Steny HoyerSteny Hamilton HoyerManchin: FBI seeks’ unintentional ‘home accusation plan to identify help with the Capitol riot that carried Republicans’ flag of the Republic, MORE support for Trump accusation. (D-Md.) Before calling the whistleblowers bullshit.

“You’re creating a problem that you do not understand the consequences of,” Rep. Steve WomackStephen (Steve) Allen WomackHouse Republicans who did not go to Texas’ lawsuit would serve Jason Smith as the best Republican in the House Budget Committee on the money: Trump ventures with new stimulus strategy | Trump can not block summons to major juries for his tax returns, court rules | Long-term unemployment figures rise, emphasizing the economic pain MORE (R-Ark.) Shouts at the police manning the detectors and yells at them to ‘come back’ and ‘do not touch me.’

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Who reckoned her desire to carry her Glock pistol in the Capitol, was also seen by a reporter lighting a detector and refusing to hand over her bag to police for inspection.

Although it was not immediately clear what the confrontation with the officers was about, Boebert later tweeted: “I may legally carry my firearm in Washington, DC and inside the Capitol complex,” and that the detectives’ just another political stunt of the Speaker is’ [Nancy] Pelosi ‘it could not prevent last week’s riots.

A Democratic lawmaker responded to Boebert’s remark and told The Hill that the detectors were not meant to stop a riot, but rather to stop lawmakers from bringing firearms into the living room – something Boebert said she would could do.

The detectives must “prevent the jackets from bringing guns into the room,” the Democratic lawmaker said. “We already have one member who has announced that she wants to bring one in there.”

Republican criticism has been the latest source of tension in a Capitol already shaken by last week’s deadly riots and this week’s indictments in the House, which begin Tuesday night.

The metal detectors were installed on Tuesday to show everyone – including lawmakers – before entering the living room. The devices are the latest defense system put in place after the violent mob stormed the Capitol last week, overwhelmed police and killed at least one officer.

“To ensure that the Capitol Police’s regulations regarding firearms and fire devices are complied with, as well as to provide a safe and secure environment in which legislative matters are in force immediately, all persons, including members, are required [to] undergo security checks as they enter the living room, ”Acting House Sergeant Timothy Blodgett wrote in a statement.

According to Blodgett, the metal detectors are installed at certain entrances to the room, adding that “the failure to complete the screen or the transportation of prohibited objects may deny access to the room.”

Republicans on Tuesday slammed the measure as unnecessary, claiming they were left out of the decision to set up the detectors.

“They are hampering the ability of members to come and vote,” House Minority Whip said Steve ScaliseStephen (Steve) Joseph Scalise Waves of companies cut donations – many of them to GOP lawmakers vote on frustration over leadership’s response to Trump riots READ: Republicans who voted to challenge election results MORE (R-La.), And added that there were detectors at various locations throughout the Capitol complex. ‘They are strictly designed to impede the ability of members to come and vote. This is our job. No one ever discussed it; you do not make such a big change. ”

“For members of Congress to enter the floor of the US House, we must now undergo intense security measures in addition to the security we are already going through. These new provisions include searches and walking around like criminals. We now live in Pelosi’s communist America! ”Adds Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.) By.

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), A Conservative firefighter who heads the House Freedom Caucus, said the detectors were ‘shit’ and ‘the stupidest thing’ when he encountered them.

Rep. Larry BucshonLarry Dean Bucshon The Republicans of the House who did not enter into the Texas case. Vaccine development is safe. The opposite is unfounded, but Congress must protect patients with kidney disease during the COVID-19 pandemic. (R-Ind.) Called on Republicans of the House to “formally protest” and said that ‘the Capitol police are forcing members not to allow members on the floor of the house without a’ security ‘ checkpoint is constitutional. ‘

Eventually, about ten lawmakers were seen bypassing the detectors and entering the room, raising questions about the efficiency of the devices, especially as officers hesitate to restrain housekeepers.

Capitol police did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill regarding the complaints.

The GOP complaining about the detectors comes as police in the Capitol and the weapons sergeants search for security around the Capitol in preparation for the inauguration of the elected president next week. Joe BidenJoe Biden Capitol police confirm investigation into behavior of some officers during riots GOP lawmakers say Trump takes some responsibility for Capitol riots Director of military personnel disputes Capitol police chief accountant on deploying national guard MORE.

Law enforcers appeared deplorably unprepared for last week’s mob and have been inundated with dual criticism since the deadly riot. Since then, a 7-foot “non-scalable fence” has been erected along the perimeter of the Capitol, and the Pentagon has authorized the National Guard to deploy up to 15,000 guards for support on Inauguration Day.

Juliegrace Brufke, Mike Lillis and Scott Wong contributed to this report.

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