Representative Virginia Foxx, who challenged the Capitol Police’s claim that she failed to complete a security check before entering the House chamber, received a $5,000 punishment from the House Ethics Committee on Thursday, The Hill reports.
The ruling is the third time the Ethics Committee has agreed to hear an appeal of penalties imposed following the attack on January 6 at the Capitol to ensure compliance with metal detector inspections.
In order for a lawmaker’s appeal to be successful, a bipartisan majority of the ten-member panel must concur.
Foxx activated a metal detector in front of a House entrance, according to the Capitol Police report detailing the event.
After that, Foxx allegedly went to the screening area and reportedly “told the police something to the effect of, ‘Good thing no one stopped me.'”
“I dispute the facts as presented,” Foxx wrote in her appeal to the House Ethics Committee, although she didn’t go into detail.
Representatives Louie Gohmert, Andrew Clyde, and Lloyd Smucker were among three House Republicans who appealed, and the House Ethics Committee upheld their fines.
Since then, Gohmert and Clyde have launched a lawsuit contesting the sanctions’ legality.
The sanctions levied against House Majority Whip James Clyburn and Representative Hal Rogers were dropped by the House Ethics Committee last month.
Because several Republicans attempted to avoid metal detector checks, House Democrats imposed fines of $5,000 for the first infraction and $10,000 for the second. Representative Andy Harris was also caught with a hidden gun while being screened to enter the House chamber in January.
After several Republicans refused to comply with Democrats’ regulations forcing everyone in the House chamber to wear masks during the COVID-19 epidemic, penalties were imposed.
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