Republican Congressmen Take Thousands Of Dollars In Metal Detector Fines To Court

Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., has promised to legally challenge fines levied against him for bypassing congressional metal detectors. He said that he violated house rules intentionally in order to set up the legal battle, Politico reported.

The first-term congressman alleges that the security measures put in place after the Jan. 6 capitol riots violate his constitutional rights.

“I did that so we would have legal standing to take the case to federal court, and that's exactly what I'm going to do," Clyde said in March. "People have to stand for the Constitution.”

Clyde, 57, was born in Ontario, Canada, and grew up in Indiana. He owns two gun stores in Georgia. In March 2020, he sued the city of Athens over the shelter-in-place order imposed due to the pandemic, which closed his business. Clyde won the House seat in the 2020 election, filling the district seat held by Doug Collins, who declined to seek reelection so he could run for Senate.

Metal new detectors have generated debate, particularly from Republicans. “This is bulls---,” Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Iowa, said on Jan. 12.

Congressmen who try to avoid the security measure are subject to a $5,000 fine, increased to $10,000 for subsequent violations. Clyde tried to appeal his fines to the House Ethics Committee but was rejected.

“While my team and I continue to await an announcement of a fine levied on the Speaker, we are preparing for the next stage of this fight. I will take my case to federal court where I am confident justice will be served,” he said.

Clyde’s not alone in his crusade. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, was also fined and also had his appeal rejected by the House Ethics Committee. Capitol police have also reportedly opened an investigation into whether Gohmert attempted to bring a firearm onto the floor in January.

Both Clyde and Gohmert were among 12 Republicans voting against a measure to award agencies that defended the Capitol building on Jan. 6 with Congressional Gold Medals. Clyde also voted against holding a second impeachment trial for Trump after the attack.

Another Republican prominent in the national conversation was a member of that small cadre: Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who’s been embroiled in allegations of sex trafficking a 17-year-old girl.