House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has proposed a new rule that would fine members who do not follow new security protocols, including walking through a metal detector, in the wake of the deadly U.S. Capitol riot.Pelosi announced the proposal Thursday. The House would not vote on the new rule until Jan. 21., a day after the inauguration, Pelosi’s office said in a statement.The proposed fines, $5,000 for a first time offense and $10,000 for a second, come as some House Republicans have openly defied the metal detectors placed outside the House chamber in the days that followed the riot.”Many House Republicans have disrespected our heroes by verbally abusing them and refusing to adhere to basic precautions keeping members of our Congressional community, including the Capitol Police, safe,” Pelosi said in a statement. “It is tragic that this step is necessary, but the Chamber of the People’s House must and will be safe.”Video, witness accounts reveal darker intent of some Capitol riotersAmong the House Republicans who balked at the new requirement is Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo. Boebert has bragged about her desire to carry her firearms around D.C. and on Capitol Hill.”Metal detectors outside of the House would not have stopped the violence we saw last week,” she said, calling them “just another political stunt” by Pelosi.When Boebert walked through the metal detector, she set it off and refused to allow a search of her bag. She was eventually let into the House chamber.Not just the House: From golf to Central Park Carousel, Trump is rebuffed Off-duty Virginia police officers arrested for roles in Capitol riot Powerball jackpot grows to $640M, 8th largest in US lottery history Get the latest news straight to your phone: Download the USA TODAY appLouisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, the No. 2 House Republican, said the metal detectors were designed to impede lawmakers from voting and were not discussed with GOP leaders ahead of time.Other lawmakers were seen walking around the detectors or setting them off but proceeding through.”You can’t stop me. I’m on my way to a vote,” said Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas. Some Democrats jeered their counterparts. “Do these people not understand that literally everyone else has to go through metal detectors to get in here?” said Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va. “Get over yourselves.”How a Trump mob stormed the US Capitol, forcing Washington into lockdownRep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., from the Detroit area, tweeted, “Now they know how HS students in my district feel. Suck it up buttercups. Y’all brought this on yourselves.”Five people died during the violence on Jan. 6 as a mob, incited by President Donald Trump, stormed the Capitol and broke through security barriers. The rioters were seen on the Senate floor and breaking windows of the door onto the House floor.Trump was impeached Wednesday for his role in the riots and is likely to face a Senate trial in the early days of Joe Biden’s presidency. Contributing: John Bacon and The Associated
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