Clyburn fined $5K for metal detector violation

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) has been fined $5,000 by the House sergeant at arms over a Tuesday incident in which he allegedly avoided metal detectors before entering the House floor as required under new security protocols following the Jan. 6 Capitol mob attack. 

In a letter dated Wednesday to the House Ethics Committee, acting Sergeant at Arms Timothy P. Blodgett wrote that Clyburn had been notified about the fine, as well as his right to appeal. 

Blodgett included in the letter the notice sent to the top Democratic lawmaker, in which he said that Clyburn had 30 calendar days or five legislative days, whichever comes later, to send an appeal in writing to the Ethics Committee.  

According to a Tuesday U.S. Capitol Police filing, Clyburn moved into the House Chamber “without being screened by the officer” after returning from the restroom during a vote. 

The notice added that Clyburn “deliberately avoided being screened by refusing to submit to screening at the West lobby screening point” and “continued past the officers” to walk onto the House floor. 

The fine marks the first time a Democrat has been punished for violations of the new security protocols. 

Multiple House Republicans, including one who exited the House chamber to use the same nearby restroom as Clyburn, have been hit with the $5,000 fine.

In a statement to Politico on Wednesday, a spokesperson for Clyburn said the congressman “respects the rules of the chamber and he disputes the characterization of this incident.” 

Clyburn reportedly told CNN’s Manu Raju that he plans to appeal the fine. 

The Hill has reached out to Clyburn’s office for comment. 

House Democrats established the fines — $5,000 for the first offense and $10,000 for the second — after multiple Republicans refused to comply with the screenings in January.

While members of Congress are permitted to bypass metal detectors throughout the Capitol complex, this does not apply to the security screenings outside the House chamber. 

The Ethics Committee has upheld fines levied against GOP Reps. Andrew Clyde (Ga.) and Louie Gohmert (Texas) after they attempted to appeal the violations. 

Clyde received two fines totaling up to $15,000, while Gohmert was issued a single $5,000 fine. 

This week, the House Ethics Committee published a Capitol Police report issuing a $5,000 fine to GOP Rep. Hal Rogers (Ky.), who said he had appealed the punishment.