Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, announced on the 13th that she intends to impose a fine of up to $10,000 on members who refuse to accept metal detector inspection at the entrance of the House of Representatives.
The U.S. Congress was hit by violence last week. Several entrances of the House of Representatives set up metal detection security gates on the evening of the 12th to check whether members of Congress are armed.
Pelosi announced on the 13th that the House of Representatives would resume on the 21st and vote on a new rule to impose fines on members who refuse to inspect.
The initial refusal of inspection was fined $5,000, and another violation was $10,000, which was deducted directly from the salaries of the members of the congressmen.
Reuters reported that several Republicans were seen either bypassing the security gate or complaining loudly about the inspection method to the congressional police.
According to Pelosi, many House Republicans “disrespect” the congressional police, “abuse them and refuse to comply with measures to ensure the safety of congressional employees”.
AFP reported that the U.S. Congress previously only carried out security checks on tourists and congressional staff, and lawmakers were exempted from inspection.
Some parliamentarians expressed dissatisfaction with the new security procedures.
The newly elected Republican Congressman Lauren Berbett triggered the alarm when she passed the metal detection security door on the evening of the 12th and refused to open her handbag for inspection.
Berbert once said that she would carry a pistol when working in Congress.
Berbert later protested in a social media article that the metal detection security gate at the entrance of the House of Representatives could not stop violence similar to last week, and that “it is just another political stunt for Speaker Pelosi”.
Trump supporters demonstrated outside Congress on the 6th, and some of them stormed into the building, forcing the Senate and the House of Representatives to certify the presidential election results to be interrupted for a while.
Demonstrators clashed with the police. One of the demonstrators was shot dead by police officers, and one police officer died of his wounds. Three other demonstrators died in the first aid process.
