Lawmakers bubble as lines form to pass through home floor metal detectors

GOP House lawmakers spoke out Tuesday night against a security policy requiring members to go through metal detectors before entering the chamber to vote on a resolution calling for the impeachment of President Trump for his role in the riot on Capitol Hill last week.

Long queues formed outside the chamber of the Chamber as members waited to pass through the detectors. Several Republicans refused to comply with the procedure, while others complained to Capitol Hill security and House Democrats that the security measures were instituted without adequate notice and consultation.

In a heated meeting, House administration ranking member Rodney Davis, R-Ill., Exchanged harsh words with the Capitol Police as well as with the House Majority Leader, Steny Hoyer, D-Md. Davis grew angry after security denied him access to a staircase near the speaker’s lobby, which is usually open to members.

“Steny, those are bulls —,” Davis said.

“Rodney, we all go through magnetometers. All of us,” Hoyer replied as Davis chatted with the officer.

Davis said the security measures “took resources completely where they needed to be”, adding that Democrats “did so without any consultation with the minority.”

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Tx., Was one of the Republicans in the House who chose not to go through metal detectors.

“The House Floor Metal Detector Policy is unnecessary, unconstitutional and endangers members,” Roy said in a statement on the incident. “I didn’t comply tonight. I won’t comply in the future.”

Timothy P. Blodgett, Acting House Sergeant-at-Arms, briefed lawmakers on the additional security measures Tuesday afternoon. In addition to installing metal detectors, Blodgett warned in a memo that firearms were prohibited in the House bedroom.

Earlier today, Davis described the measures as “derailed political correctness.”

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“The threat is outside, not inside. Every resource used inside is a resource that cannot be used outside,” he said in a statement.

Members of the House are expected to vote on Tuesday night on a resolution calling on Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office. In a letter to Pelosi, Pence said he had no plans to move forward with the resolution even if it passed.

The Main Democrats have said they will start impeachment proceedings if Pence refuses. Several Republicans have indicated they will support Trump’s impeachment before his term ends on January 20.