Rep. Crenshaw fined $5,000 for skipping Capitol security procedures

Congressman Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) has been fined $5,000 for skipping security procedures before he entered the Republican cloakroom inside the Capitol complex last week.

William J. Walker, the House Sergeant at Arms, levied the fine against Crenshaw following an investigation into two unidentified individuals who entered the House chamber without clearing security. One of those individuals was Crenshaw, the other, still yet to be identified, appeared to be a former member of Congress.

A small group of Republican lawmakers have stood firm against the new security measures added to the Capitol following the January 6 Capitol breach. Following the installation of the metal detectors around Capitol and Chamber entrances, reports of a number of Republican lawmakers skirting the new security measures consistently flowed in. 

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) caused a stir in January, just days into her freshman term in office, when she refused to allow Capitol Police to search her bag after setting off metal detectors. Rep. Andy Harris, the sole Republican in the Maryland congressional delegation, set off a magnetometer near the House chamber while carrying a concealed weapon – the Capitol Police subsequently launched an investigation. 

Even the occasional Democrat has been subject to a fine. In April, Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina was slapped with a $5,000 fine after bypassing security. 

A member will be fined $5,000 upon his or her first violation of security measures, and any future violation will run up a price tag of $10,000 that the lawmaker must pay. The lawmakers have 30 days to appeal thee fine after being notified of the violation.