‘Good thing no one stopped me’: GOP congresswoman fined $5,000 for running through Capitol security checkpoint
North Carolina Rep. Virginia Foxx was fined $5,000 by the House Ethics Committee for running through a Capitol security checkpoint last week.
The Republican lawmaker tossed her purse under a table, raced through the metal detector and ignored officers who tried to stop her when she set off the alarm on Thursday, a Capitol Police report said.
Foxx, who was apparently rushing to cast a vote, returned to the checkpoint minutes later.
“The Congresswoman told the officers something to the effect of: ‘Good thing no one stopped me,’” the report said.
Foxx is one of several GOP lawmakers to get in trouble with Capitol security in recent months.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) called the metal detectors a “political stunt” just a week after the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol and caused a brief stand off with cops.
Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) was denied entry after cops discovered he was carrying a concealed weapon.
NEW: House Ethics Committee announces $5,000 fine for GOP Rep. Virginia Foxx.
Capitol Police say she threw her handbag under the table next to the metal detector, then returned to be screened and said "something in the effect of 'good thing no one stopped me.'" pic.twitter.com/PszZzO9Ryb— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) May 18, 2021
After the House enacted a system of fines for evading the checkpoints, GOP Reps. Louie Gohmert (R-Tex.) and Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) were fined $5,000 each. Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) was also fined.
Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) was also hit with a similar penalty last month after he left the House floor to go to the bathroom and walked past the checkpoint on the way back.
