Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Gun-Toting GOP Lawmaker Slammed For Clashing With Capitol Police After She Set Off New Metal Detectors

Gun-Toting GOP Lawmaker Slammed For Clashing With Capitol Police After She Set Off New Metal Detectors
Hyoung Chang/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images
Newly-elected Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert of Colorado clashed with U.S. Capitol Police on Tuesday when she refused to let them go through her purse after setting off a metal detector placed at the entrance to the House floor.
In the wake of the U.S. Capitol insurrection last Wednesday, members of Congress are now required to walk through metal detectors before entering the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The new security measure was implemented after a number of House members expressed concern about their colleagues choosing to ignore federal statutes and House rules and carry concealed weapons around the Capitol campus.

Boebert—who is a gun rights advocate and insists on carrying a firearm on Capitol grounds—made headlines last week for posting a controversial campaign advertisement.

In the three-minute video, she appeared to wander around the nation's capital purportedly toting a Glock semi-automatic pistol and explaining the need to arm herself on her way to Congress.


The Republican lawmaker refused to allow Capitol Police to search her belongings after setting off the alarm but was eventually let into the House chamber.

CNN's Washington correspondent Ryan Nobles kept track of Boebert's standoff situation on Twitter.




Capitol Hill Reporter Marc Rod also provided updates on Boebert's security clash.

Boebert justified her refusal to cooperate with police on Twitter.

"I am legally permitted to carry my firearm in Washington, D.C. and within the Capitol complex. Metal detectors outside of the House would not have stopped the violence we saw last week—it's just another political stunt by Speaker Pelosi."

It is illegal to open carry in the District of Columbia.

However, members of Congress are allowed to carry firearms to and from their office on U.S. Capitol grounds. They must store them in their congressional offices and at all times the weapon is to be unloaded.

Twitter shared their thoughts on the incident and slammed the gun-toting Republican from a small town in Colorado called Rifle.




Boebert's history of repeated arrests did not go unnoticed.


@ilenes57/Twitter


On January 10, acting House Sergeant at Arms Timothy Blodgett issued a memo informing congressional members and their staff about the new safety protocol.

"Effective immediately, all persons, including Members, are required [to] undergo security screening when entering the House Chamber," said Blodgett.

He added:

"Members are reminded that pursuant to the firearms regulations that Members received on opening day, firearms are restricted to a Member's Office."

Boebert was recently under fire and faced calls for resignation after being accused of endangering the life of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for tweeting her whereabouts during the Capitol breach.

A minute after indicating House members were locked in the House chamber, the freshman Republican tweeted the House Speaker "has been removed from the chambers."

She also tweeted earlier in the day, "Today is 1776," which her critics interpreted as signaling for insurgence.

More from News

Chris Martin from Coldplay
Dave Simpson/WireImage/Getty Images

Chris Martin Divides Fans After Thanking India Concertgoers For 'Forgiving' British Colonialism

It's always important to remember our history, take responsibility for our ancestors' actions, and try our best to improve. But there's a time and a place for discussing historical events and conflicts.

As fans of Coldplay pointed out, bringing up intense political conflict during a concert might not be the best choice.

Keep ReadingShow less
Adrien Brody & Felicity Jones
A24

'The Brutalist' Director Speaks Out To Defend Film's Use Of AI After Igniting Backlash

Another day, another industry grappling with the use of AI.

Director Brady Corbet had to clarify and defend his film's artistic choices to use AI in his low-budget, high-profile movie about a Hungarian architect in post-war America.

Keep ReadingShow less
Carrie Underwood singing at President Donald Trump's inauguration
Julia Demaree Nikhinson - Pool/Getty Images

Carrie Underwood Reportedly Had A 'Hissy Fit' After Her Glitchy Inauguration Performance

Country singer Carrie Underwood's rendition of "America the Beautiful" inside the Capitol rotunda after Republican President Donald Trump was sworn in on Monday hit a technical snag when she was forced to sing a cappella.

The American Idol alum managed to do what any other trained, professional singer would under the circumstances and expertly sang live without the expected backing music track.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Anderson Cooper and Michael Fanone
CNN

Capitol Officer Slams Trump For Pardoning Jan. 6 Rioters: 'I Have Been Betrayed By My Country'

Michael Fanone—who worked for the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia for 20 years until he sustained serious and life-threatening injuries when he was brutally attacked by President Donald Trump's supporters during the January 6 insurrection—spoke out on CNN after Trump issued a mass pardon of all the insurrectionists on his first day in office.

Fanone's name has become synonymous with the many police officers who suffered horrific and unprecedented trauma as they attempted to restore order and protect the seat of the nation's government on January 6, 2021.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot from @kclmft's TikTok video; Donald Trump
@kclmft/TikTok; Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

TikToker Calls Out Subtly Racist Message After Spanish Version Of White House Website Disappears

The moment Republican President Donald Trump was sworn in during Monday's inauguration, the twice-impeached former president became the first convicted felon to become Commander-in-Chief—and for a second term, no less.

Trump didn't waste time making good on his campaign promises by signing off on executive orders and revamping the White House website, the latter of which featured a hype video on the home page and the deletion of a Spanish language version of the site.

Keep ReadingShow less