The claim:
The House Republican Committee on February 5th, 2021 claimed that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi violated her own order that every person entering the house chamber be screened by security.
“Speaker Pelosi broke her own rules this week by entering the House Chamber without going through security. We are demanding she faces the same fines as every other member of Congress,” the House GOP claimed in a letter.
That letter said:
House Resolution 73 directs you in your capacity as Sergeant at Arms to impose fines against
members of the House who fail to complete security screening prior to entering the House
Chamber.The resolution, which went into effect upon passage of the House on February 2nd, imposes a
fine for $5,000 for the first offense. It also directs you to promptly notify in writing of fines
being imposed for violations of House Resolution 73. Yesterday, at approximately 9:59 am,
multiple members observed the Speaker of the House entering the House Chamber without
completing security screening.What was observed was a clear violation ofHouseResolution 73 and you are required by House
Rules to impose this fine. Please inform us once the fine has been assessed
We look forward to a prompt response to this inquiry.
Is it fake news?
According to Congress.Gov, House Resolution 732 states this resolution authorizes the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives to impose a fine ($5,000 for a first offense and $10,000 for any subsequent offense) against a Member, Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner for failure to complete security screening for entrance to the House chamber.
So far, two lawmakers have been fined, Rep. Louie Gohmert and Rep. Randy Weber have each been fined for bypassing security as of February 6th, 2021. The bill was the brainchild of California Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi.
H. Res. 73
In the House of Representatives, U. S.,
February 2, 2021.
Resolved,
SECTION 1. IMPOSITION OF FINES FOR FAILURE TO COMPLETE SECURITY SCREENING FOR ENTRANCE TO HOUSE CHAMBER.
(a) Imposition By Sergeant-At-Arms.— (1) The Sergeant-at-Arms is authorized and directed to impose a fine against a Member, Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner for failure to complete security screening for entrance to the House Chamber.
(2) A fine imposed pursuant to this resolution shall be $5,000 for a first offense and $10,000 for any subsequent offense.
(3) The Sergeant-at-Arms shall promptly notify in writing the Member, Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner, the Speaker, the Committee on Ethics, and the Chief Administrative Officer of any fine under this subsection. Such notification shall include findings detailing the violation and shall also be made publicly available by the chair of the Committee on Ethics.
Verdict: 99% Exactly News
At this time, this is 99% exactly news.
“Yesterday, at approximately 9:59 am, multiple members observed the Speaker of the House entering the House Chamber without completing security screening,” multiple witnesses reported. We cannot confirm 100%. The number of witnesses claiming to have watched the Speaker of the House bypass security. There are no measures in the bill to account for re-entry screening or accommodations for other reasons, but as the rule stands upon each entry, each member shall be screened. Nancy Pelosi has not refuted or objected to the claim against her as of February 6, 2021.
Pelosi’s staff has not responded to comment on the matter as of yet.
