A group of Republican Representatives entered the Senate Chamber on Thursday to protest the recently-reintroduced mask regime in the US Capitol that authorised Capitol Police to arrest visitors and Capitol workers without face coverings.
Before the march, GOP Congressman Chip Roy proposed to close the House as a move to oppose the new anti-coronavirus measures.
“Congressman Roy said it succinctly on the House floor Wednesday: ‘We have a crisis at our border and we’re playing footsie with mask mandates in the people’s house'”, a spokesperson for the Texas lawmaker told Fox News in an email.
In compliance with recently-reintroduced pandemic protocols in Washington, DC, the US Capitol Police were instructed on 29 July to arrest visitors and staff who are not wearing masks, if they refuse to leave the building or refuse to put on a mask, regardless of their vaccination status.
According to the memo, offending lawmakers cannot be arrested, but only reported to the House sergeant-at-arms, as they have constitutional immunity.
Despite the step triggering a strident backlash – with some Republicans calling the health measure “tyrannical” and a “political move” by Democrats – GOP lawmakers blasted US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, believing the move was implemented by her.
Forsided, 30.07.2021