GOP Reps. Louie Gohmert of Texas and Andrew Clyde of Georgia were fined $5,000 each for bypassing metal detectors before entering the House floor on Thursday.
They are the first lawmakers to be fined due to the House’s new rules on passing through metal detectors, according to a senior Democratic aide.
On Tuesday the House voted 216-210 to adopt the new measure, which would charge lawmakers $5,000 for a first-time offence and $10,000 thereafter.
The $5,000 fine will be deducted from Gohmert and Cylde’s salaries.
“We’ll be appealing because this is ridiculous,” Gohmert told Axios. “This isn’t ‘The Godfather’ where you plant a gun in the toilet tank. There is no toilet tank in the bathroom.”
The metal detectors were put in place to beef up security in the aftermath of the Capitol riot on Jan. 6. Republicans refused to pass through the security screening to get into the House chamber and even argued with some Capitol Hill Police officers.
