Capitol Police Are Told To Arrest Any Staffers And Visitors Who Don’t Have Masks On

U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) have been ordered to arrest visitors and staffers not wearing masks on the House side of the Capitol complex.

Police Told To Arrest Maskless Visitors And Staffers

USCP Chief Thomas Manger announced this in a new police memo that was obtained by a member of Congress, according to Fox News.

While officers were told not to arrest members of Congress who refuse to wear masks, they will instead be directed to report the lawmakers’ noncompliance to the House sergeant-at-arms.

Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL) posted the memo to Twitter on Thursday after she was given it by an unnamed Capitol Police officer.

“This is such an overstep of Speaker Pelosi’s authority to basically make our Capitol Police arrest staff members and report on members [of Congress],” Cammack said of the memo. “It’s absolutely unconscionable that this is where we’re at.”

Cammack and many of her fellow Republican lawmakers have been furious over Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) new mask mandate in the House.

“I cannot comply with this tyrannical order,” Cammack said of it. “This is the people’s house, not Nancy Pelosi’s house.”

Capitol Police Defend Memo

The Capitol Police have defended the memo, claiming that this rule had already been in place and that there’s “no reason” any situation should escalate to the point where someone should be arrested for not wearing a mask.

“Regarding the House rules about masks, there is no reason it should ever come to someone being arrested,” the USCP said. “Anyone who does not follow the rules will be asked to wear a mask or leave the premises. The Department’s requirement for officers to wear masks is for their health and safety.”

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