US Capitol Police walk back order to arrest those without a mask

Earlier in the week, the Capitol physician reinstated mask mandates for the House of Representatives.
U.S. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger
By Nicholas Sherman

Capitol police Thursday night walked back a memo that ordered officers to deny entry and possibly arrest those who enter the United States House of Representatives who are not wearing masks after mask mandates were reintroduced earlier this week.

"Regarding the House mask rule, there is no reason it should ever come to someone being arrested. Anyone who does not follow the rule will be asked to wear a mask or leave the premises. The Department's requirements for officers to wear masks is for their health and safety," the USCP said in a statement Thursday night.

On Wednesday, newly appointed Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger ordered officers to enforce new mask mandates in the House, including denial of entry and even arrest.

"If a visitor or staff member fails to wear a mask after a request is made to do so, the visitor or staff shall be denied entry to the House Office Buildings or House-side of the U.S. Capitol," Manger said Wednesday. "Any person who fails to either comply or leave the premises after being asked to do so would be subject to an arrest for Unlawful Entry."