Rep. Virginia Foxx fined $5,000 for failure to complete House security screening

WASHINGTON — Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., is facing a $5,000 fine for failing to comply with a security screening before entering the House Chamber, a post-Jan. 6 security measure that other Republicans have also on occasion not followed.

On May 13, the congresswoman "ran through the magnetometer, triggering the alarm," and "threw her bag underneath the table" next to the screening device, according to a memorandum of the incident filed by U.S. Capitol Police. Foxx said she was late for a vote, according to a witness statement.

Foxx bypassed a USCP officer who attempted to stop her but returned to the screening area to complete screening procedures after casting her vote. An officer testified she said, "Good thing no one stopped me..." The incident was witnessed by an unknown reporter, according to the memorandum.

In a letter dated May 14 to Rep. Theodore E. Deutch, chairman of the House Ethics Committee, Sergeant at Arms William J. Walker wrote that Foxx violated a House resolution that requires security screenings for all lawmakers.

The House introduced new security screening procedures — including metal detectors — the week after the attack on the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6. Some House Republicans argued the security measures were an infringement on Second Amendment rights. Lawmakers are allowed to carry unloaded weapons on Capitol grounds but not on the House floor.

When some objectors openly defied the new rule, the House granted the sergeant-at-arms the authority to fine members of Congress $5,000 for the first offense and $10,000 for a second offense.

Reps. Louie Gohmert, R-Tx. and Andrew Clyde, R-Ga. were the first lawmakers fined for violating the rule in February. The $5,000 fine was deducted from each of their salaries.

This was Foxx's first violation of the House rule, according to a notification of violation addressed to her.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Virginia Foxx fined $5000 for failure to complete a security screening