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Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) is the fifth House member and fourth Republican to incur a $5,000 fine for improperly complying with security screening.
House Sergeant at Arms William Walker notified Ethics Committee chairman Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) of the violation by Foxx on Friday, but the committee did not publish the notice until Tuesday.
According to an unidentified Capitol Police sergeant, Foxx “ran through the magnetometer, activating the alarm” while heading to the House floor for a vote on Thursday afternoon. The sergeant added that Foxx stashed her bag underneath a table next to the magnetometer and ignored requests from two officers to undergo screening.
After Foxx voted, the sergeant said, she returned to the magnetometer to be screened, telling the officers: “Good thing no one stopped me.”
Around that time, one of the officers manning the magnetometer said he was approached by Politico reporter Olivia Beavers, who allegedly told him: “I don’t know if it changes anything, but I don’t want to get you guys in trouble. But I’m going to be reporting on that.”
Foxx, who was first elected to Congress in 2004, could not immediately be reached by the Post for comment. Beavers reported Friday that when she asked Foxx about the incident, the congresswoman responded: “I didn’t think the metal detector went off. I was late to vote. I barely made it. I ran back out and went back in.”
When Beavers tried to ask a follow-up question, Foxx cut her off and asked, “Why don’t you deal with things that are important?”
Metal detectors were installed outside the House chamber following the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. The House voted in February to make noncompliance with screenings punishable with a $5,000 fine for a first offense and $10,000 for a second offense.
Foxx can appeal the fine, but has not yet done so, according to The Hill.
Along with Foxx, Reps. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) and Hal Rogers (R-Ga.) have been hit with fines, along with House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.).
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